§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Employment if any preference is given to those who have been on the unemployment register for a long time when considering which claimant to send for job interviews.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 2 June 1980, c. 434]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that in submitting job seekers to available vacancies the public employment service takes account of their qualifications, experience and suitability for the jobs in question.
Priority is not afforded to long-term unemployed people when submitting registrants to vacancies other than under the MSC's special temporary employment programme.