HL Deb 07 July 1980 vol 411 cc1010-1WA
Lord BOYD-CARPENTER

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will state as at the latest convenient date the number of vacancies outstanding in:

  1. (1) the armed forces of the Crown;
  2. (2) police forces in the United Kingdom;
  3. (3) public transport;
  4. (4) nursing services.

The Earl of GOWRIE

As I told my noble friend in March it is not the practice to give detailed information on manpower targets for the armed forces. The armed forces are however still well below their planned strength. The police service had just over 6,000 vacancies on 31st March 1980. It is not possible to give a figure for total vacancies in public transport. 4,564 vacancies in public transport were notified to the Employment Service Division of the Manpower Services Commission and 452 to the Careers Service in May 1980. From the latest available information it is estimated that there are about 19,000 vacancies for qualified nursing staff.