HC Deb 22 March 1978 vol 946 cc590-1W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the object of the meeting held at his Department on Thursday 16th March with representatives of the hotel and catering industry; if he will list all those who attended; and if he will make a statement on the conclusion reached and decisions taken following the meeting.

Mr. John Grant

When I announced in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick) [Official Report, 16th December 1977 Vol. 941, c. 431–4] the special arrangements for the issue of work permits for the employment of overseas workers in the hotel and catering industry in 1978, I referred to the suggestion which had been made to me by the TUC that I should convene a join consultative committee to consider manpower problems in the industry. In order to follow up this proposal, I held an informal consultation on Thursday 16th March at which representatives of employers and trade unions and other interested parties discussed problems concerning recruitment, training and employment of workers in the industry—excluding questions of pay.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the following bodies:

  • The British Hotels Restaurants and Caterers Association,
  • The Restaurateurs Association of Great Britain,
  • The Brewers Society,
  • The Hotel and Catering Institutional Management Association.
  • The TUC Hotel and Catering Industry Committee,
  • The British Tourist Authority,
  • The Hotel and Catering Economic Development Committee,
  • The Manpower Services Commission,
  • The Hotel and Catering Industry Training Board,
  • and Government Departments concerned.

During the meeting there was a useful exchange of views and it was agreed that further discussion of these problems should take place within the Hotel and Catering Economic Development Committee.