HC Deb 20 May 1976 vol 911 cc698-9W
Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to bring into operation the Employment Agencies Act 1973.

Mr. Harold Walker

The hon. Member will be pleased to know that I have made a Commencement Order to bring the Act, except for Section 1, into force on 1st July 1976. Section 1, which makes it an offence to carry on an employment agency or employment business without a current licence from the Secretary of State, or without having applied for one, will come into force on 1st November 1976, except in the case of employment agencies holding current licences granted by local authorities under local Acts. Section 1 will apply to them from 30th June 1976. Under that section they will be able to carry on the specific activity covered by their local authority licence until the latter expires.

I have today laid before Parliament Regulations made under the Act and an Order to repeal certain provisions of local Acts which the 1973 Act will supersede. These will come into force on 1st July 1976.