HC Deb 02 March 1982 vol 19 cc99-100W
34. Mr. Norman Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what evidence he has of the extent to which companies have adopted the technique of notifying and advertising non-existent vacancies for the purpose of keeping an active applications register; and to what extent this is reflected in the vacancy statistics.

Mr. Peter Morrison

There are cases of companies compiling waiting lists of potential employees against future, rather than current vacancies, but it is not possible to draw general conclusions as to the extent of the practice.

The Manpower Services Commission's jobcentres and employment offices do not knowingly accept vacancies notified by employers solely for the purpose of keeping up waiting lists.

Official vacancy statistics, which are estimated to reflect about one-third of all vacancies in the economy, cover only vacancies accepted by jobcentres, employment offices and careers offices.