§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which organisations have made representations to his Department(a) in support of and (b) against a four week limit on temp to perm fees; [140894]
(2) what assessment he has made of the impact on the labour market of the proposed four week limit on the temp to perm fees in the Employment Agency Regulations; [140896]
(3) what discussions he has had with employment and recruitment agencies relating to the imposition of a four week limit on the temp to perm fees; [140893]
(4) what discussions his Department held with the recruitment industry concerning the four week limit for temp to perm fees in the draft Employment Agency Regulations. [140895]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonI have received over 200 representations on our proposal to limit the length of time an agency can demand a transfer fee from an employer after a hiring ceased where the employer wishes to take a temporary worker on permanently. Many representations have been duplicate circular letters submitted by agencies or their permanent staff against the proposals. Representations in support have been received from
748Wmy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
agencies, employers, trade unions and professional associations. My Department and I have had continuous discussions with the industry since the publication of the proposals by means of meetings, visits, correspondence, conference speeches and telephone. In common with all regulatory proposals an impact assessment has been prepared. We expect our proposals to improve labour market flexibility by removing barriers to entry into the permanent employment market, while allowing agencies to recoup their investment in the workers they supply and greater freedom to recruit.