§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of recruitment agencies specialise in(a) IT recruitment, (b) secretarial recruitment, (c) health care recruitment and (d) transport industries recruitment; and how many recruitment agencies are classified as SMEs. [30692]
§ Alan JohnsonI have no detailed breakdown of the private recruitment industry by particular specialist areas, since many agencies and employment businesses provide work-finding services for a number of occupations. However, we estimate that of around 20,000 establishments in the industry, about 10 per cent. specialise in IT recruitment and almost 5 per cent. are licensed nurses agencies. While this industry is made up predominantly of small firms, I have no details of the number of establishments which would be classified as SMEs.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has withdrawn support for the proposals in the draft regulations on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2001; and what plans she has to hold further discussions with the Confederation. [30684]
§ Alan JohnsonI have received no indication that the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has changed its position on the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations. I currently have no plans for further meetings with the Confederation but my officials have regular meetings with its representatives.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations her Department has received on her proposals for quarantine periods in the legislative framework governing agency conduct; and if she will make a statement. [30674]
§ Alan JohnsonDuring the latest consultation exercise on the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations, we received 80 representations containing comments on the proposed quarantine provisions.
71WThe principles underlying our proposals on the quarantine periods to apply to the payment of transfer fees are in line with suggestions made by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the principal trade association in the private recruitment industry.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which individuals and organisations will be invited to respond to the further consultation on the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations. [30678]
§ Alan JohnsonThe further consultation on certain aspects of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations will cover all those consulted last time. These regulations will also be placed on the DTI website.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies her Department has conducted into the length of time an IT professional placed through a personal services agency must be in post to recoup an agency's initial costs. [30691]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Department has undertaken no studies into the length of time an IT professional placed through a personal services agency must be in post in order to recoup the initial costs of the placement incurred by an employment business. Such information would be regarded as commercially confidential by the industry.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to exempt from the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations those temporary staff who choose to operate through personal service companies; and if she will make a statement. [30682]
§ Alan JohnsonI have no plans to exempt work-seekers who choose to operate through personal service companies from the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations.
When the existing Conduct Regulations were introduced in 1975, it was very unusual for workers to be incorporated, and those working through limited companies were, therefore, left outside the protection provided. However, in recent years, incorporation has become widespread in some sectors, notably IT, and I think we should ensure that these work-seekers are also covered by the protections provided in the proposed regulations.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to meet representatives of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies during the further consultation period for the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations. [30677]
§ Alan JohnsonI have no current plans to meet representatives of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies during the further consultation on certain aspects of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will make a statement on the length of time it has taken to draft the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2001 and the costs involved; [30683]
72W(2) what her timetable is for the completion of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; [30679]
(3) if she will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in laying the revision of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations before the House. [30675]
§ Alan JohnsonThe draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations comprise a large and detailed package, covering a wide range of issues. We have taken the time necessary to undertake extensive consultation exercises and discuss these issues with the recruitment industry. It is important to ensure that the new regulations are right for the industry, since they are likely to stay in place for some time.
I expect to issue the revised draft regulations shortly, following a short consultation exercise on certain aspects of these regulations.
I have no estimate of the costs involved in drafting these regulations.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations the Better Regulation Task Force has made on revising the existing Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and if she will make a statement. [30676]
§ Alan JohnsonIn 1999 the Better Regulation Task Force suggested alternative options for the transfer fee proposals in the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations.
The task force welcomed the Government's review of the existing Conduct Regulations and endorsed our objectives. In particular, it supported our aims of improving the protections for vulnerable people and excluded groups, while avoiding placing unnecessary burdens on the private recruitment industry. The task force shares the Government's view that this industry has a vital role to play in the economy. After further discussions with the industry we decided to adopt a modified version of one of the task force's proposals.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the Recruitment and Employment Federation on the temporary recruitment industry. [30711]
§ Alan JohnsonI have discussed a range of issues affecting the private recruitment industry with representatives of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). At my last meeting with the REC on 9 October 2001, the subjects covered included the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations and the proposed EU Directive on agency workers.