§ 40. Mr. Ralph Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of persons included in the unemployment figures who are voluntarily unemployed.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI do not have an estimate of the extent to which there are people on the unemployment register who may be described as voluntarily unemployed. Undoubtedly there are some people who are receiving unemployment benefit but who are not actively seeking work, and in that sense may be regarded as voluntarily unemployed. Unless job offers are made it is difficult to test people's attitudes to work. I have ordered officials of this Department to work with officials of the Manpower Services Commission employment services division to consider, as a matter of priority, those aspects of liaison which concern the application of the rules about the unemployed accepting jobs which are suitable and available. In addition the staff on unemployment review work within the Department of Health and Social Security has been strengthened.