§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received in response to his proposals relating to regulation of Temp to Perm in 515W the private recruitment industry as contained in his Department's draft regulation of 16 March; what assessment his Department has made of (a) the potential effect of these proposals on the permanent recruitment market and (b) the extent to which the proposals may create a disincentive to recruitment firms to train and develop their temporary workers; and if he will make a statement. [123399]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonWe have received representations from agencies, workers, unions and employers. There has been general support for the principle that hirers should have the option of a hiring extension of negotiable length, followed by free transfer, as an alternative to a "temp to perm" fee and also that there should be a limit on the period agencies may continue to demand a transfer fee after a hirer has ceased to engage a worker. Some respondents have endorsed our suggested four week limit but others have advocated shorter and longer periods.
Employers wishing to recruit permanent staff will generally continue to do so from the outset, because they will wish to attract applicants who are looking for permanent work. This is confirmed by our analysis of independent research showing the level of market segmentation between the permanent and temporary sectors.
Businesses using Business Link Quarter Number of employees England Total East East Midlands London North West North East South East South West West Midlands Yorkshire and Humberside 1999–2000 Q1 April–June 1–9 40,984 3,998 2,762 4,059 7,905 1,839 7,019 4,675 4,890 3,837 10+ 46,399 5,012 3,407 4,416 8,925 2,219 6,785 4,504 6,562 4,569 Q2 July–September 1–9 42,811 3,822 3,078 4,927 7,680 1,954 6,482 5,013 5,826 4,029 10+ 49,802 5,915 4,109 4,502 9,434 2,423 6,881 3,996 8,351 4,191 Q3 October–December 1–9 42,200 4,033 3,104 5,110 7,558 1,654 6,349 4,199 5,650 4,543 10+ 47,955 5,577 3,286 5,899 8,568 2,305 6,821 3,333 7,399 4,767 Q4 January–March 1–9 42,604 4,256 3,627 4,447 7,322 1,845 6,812 3,919 5,710 4,666 10+ 47,916 5,732 3,979 4,273 9,255 2,059 6,869 3,489 7,180 5,080 Average 1–9 42,510 4,027 3,143 4,636 7,616 1,823 6,666 4,452 5,519 4,269 10+ 48,018 5,559 3,695 4,773 9,046 2,252 6,839 3,831 7,373 4,652 1997–98 Q1 April–June 1–9 39,296 8,176 1,693 2,770 9,973 2,126 4,234 3,914 3,748 2,662 10+ 36,693 6,843 2,186 2,121 6,989 1,378 3,942 3,898 6,864 2,472 Q2 July–September 1–9 42,140 7,895 2,036 2,770 8,809 2,352 7,116 4,257 3,692 3,209 10+ 39,243 7,121 2,230 2,599 7,051 2,399 4,954 3,820 6,651 2,418 Q3 October–December 1–9 41,340 5,933 2,124 2,937 9,121 3,313 7,784 3,972 3,189 2,967 10+ 39,659 5,714 2,440 3,372 7,781 3,254 5,201 3,613 5,568 2,716 Q4 January–March 1–9 44,176 6,483 2,264 3,591 10,483 1,686 7,625 4,139 3,960 3,943 10+ 42,876 7,656 2,341 4,075 8,002 2,075 4,797 3,823 6,476 3,631 Average 1–9 41,738 7,122 2,029 3,017 9,597 2,369 6,690 4,071 3,647 3,195 10+ 39,618 6,834 2,299 3,042 7,456 2,277 4,724 3,789 6,390 2,809
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Business Links Partnerships have developed centres of enterprise, and which business areas are covered by each centre. [123544]
516WWe do not believe that a disincentive for bureaux to train and develop temporary workers will be created. Hirers will continue to seek skilled staff, and bureaux will continue to be able to recoup their training costs, in the event of a temporary worker transferring to permanent employment, either through an extension of the hiring period or the charging of a "temp to perm" fee.