§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, in the light of the privatisation of Professional and Executive Recruitment, if he will dispense with the requirement that before non-EEC candidates for highly specialised job vacancies can be retained, form OW5 has to be completed; and if he will make a statement as to his plans for creating a level playing field for professional and executive recruitment firms.
§ Mr. EggarProspective employers of overseas nationals requiring work permits have not been required to notify the vacancy to Professional and Executive Recruitment since it was privatised. Employers applying for a work permit will continue to complete a form of application which, where appropriate, will require them to state what efforts have been made (including the use of agencies) to recruit resident labour.