HC Deb 09 May 2001 vol 368 cc211-3W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many companies which offer temporary to permanent products his Department met to discuss the effect of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on temporary to permanent contracts(a) before and (b) after the final draft was published; [160652]

(2) if he will list the recruitment companies other than REC he met to discuss regulations 8 and 9 prior to the final draft of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations being published; [160658]

(3) what discussions he held with (a) recruitment companies and (b) REC relating to the impact of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on work experience to permanent products before the final draft was published. [160653]

Mr. Alan Johnson

Before the final draft of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001 was published, I had meetings with Manpower, Adecco, Blue Arrow, Brook Street, NES International and Hewett Recruitment. I also met the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the Agents Association and the Local Employment Agencies Forum. A number of issues were discussed during those meetings, including the impact of the draft Regulations on the private recruitment industry's operation.

My officials have had regular meetings with agencies and their associations to discuss the effect of the draft Regulations. It is estimated that around 100 such meetings have taken place over the past two years. However, it is not possible to break this down by date.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2001,Official Report, column 103W, what discussions he has had with (a) women's groups, (b) representatives of ethnic minority groups and (c) student groups regarding the implications of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations. [160649]

Mr. Alan Johnson

I am always willing to meet representative bodies to discuss the implications of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001, provided, of course, a mutually convenient time can be arranged. To date I have had no such meetings with groups representing women, ethnic minorities or students.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2001,Official Report, column 103W, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on recruitment bureaux products. [160650]

Mr. Alan Johnson

The Regulatory Impact Assessment issued with the draft Regulations concluded that the net result of the proposed changes should be a more effective recruitment industry able to offer a better and speedier service, helping to create a more efficient and flexible labour market. The proposals should not affect those who have appropriate systems in place.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of regulations 8 and 9 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on those recruitment companies who operate with a dual role as agency and business; [160659]

(2) what assessment he made of the impact of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations on work experience to permanent products before the final draft was published. [160654]

Mr. Alan Johnson

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 27 April 2001,Official Report, column 417W.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many meetings(a) he and (b) his officials have held with Keith Faulkner to discuss the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and on what dates; [160648]

(2) how many meetings his officials held with Manpower (a) before and (b) after the publication of the consultation document on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and on what dates; [160646]

(3) how many meetings Ministers held with Manpower relating to the consultation document on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and on what dates; [160647]

(4) what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have held with Manpower regarding the changes to temporary to permanent contracts contained in the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations. [160651]

Mr. Alan Johnson

I met Keith Faulkner of Manpower three times, on 9 September 1999, 10 January 2000 and 6 December 2000, to discuss the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations but I have not met him since the final draft Regulations were published on 1 February 2001. My officials met Mr. Faulkner on 23 August 2000. These discussions covered the various provisions of the draft Regulations, including the changes to temporary to permanent contracts.

Forward to