§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guidance his Department has given to jobcentres regarding the advertising of jobs in the sex industry; and what definition of the sex industry is used in the guidance; [129110]
(2) what his Department's policy is regarding the use of public funds to subsidise job placement schemes with firms in the sex industry. [129835]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answers 4 and 10 July 2000]: Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
655WLetter from Richard Foster to Mr. Tim Loughton, dated 12 July 2000:
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked Leigh Lewis to reply direct to your questions, about the guidance given to Jobcentres on the advertising of jobs in the sex industry; and what definition of the "sex industry" is used in the guidance and about what the Departments' policy is about the use of public funds to subsidise job placement schemes with firms in the sex industry. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Leigh Lewis as the Chief Executive of the Agency, I am replying in his absence.Jobcentres are instructed not to deal with job vacancies associated with the sex industry. The guidance dates from 1996 and does not seek to define precisely the boundaries of the sex industry but has as its prime aim the need to avoid causing genuine offence or embarrassment to jobseekers.All job placement subsidies provided by the Government require there to be a vacancy or opening with an employer. As the Employment Service does not deal with vacancies in the sex industry the question of subsidies does not arise.I hope this is helpful.