HC Deb 05 December 1977 vol 940 cc597-8W
Mr. Robert Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why, in his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West, Official Report, 22nd November, columns 714–15, he referred to a subvention payment to the Professional and Executive Recruitment Service of £2.3 million for the year 1975–76 when page 20 of the audited accounts of the Service for 1975–76 gives the subvention figure of £1.7 million.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the payment of £2.3 million received by Professional and Executive Recruitment (PER) from public funds in the 1975–76 financial year includes a payment of £1.7 million for social subvention purposes and £0.6 million to cover PER's commercial deficit.

Mr. Robert Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of those placings by the Professional and Executive Recruitment Service in the years 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77 as listed in his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West, Official Report, 22nd November 1977, columns 714–15, subsequently were found unsuitable and necessitated the credits of fee income as separately itemised in the published account.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that figures are not available on the number of placings made by Professional and Executive Recruitment (PER) which subsequently were found unsuitable and necessitated the credits of fee income and they could not be obtained without disproportionate staff costs. It is not possible to distinguish between credits for those who left employment within three months of taking up a post because they were unsuitable and those who left for other reasons.

Mr. Robert Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the social subvention payment which will be paid to the Professional and Executive Recruitment Service during the current financial year.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the budget estimate for the social subvention payment, to cover Professional and Executive Recruitment's non-commercial and non-recruitment activities, in the current financial year is £2.5 million.