asked the Minister of Labour if he will seek powers to encourage employers to register all vacancies in their establishments with the local offices of his Department.

The policy of the Government is to encourage employers to notify their vacancies to the employment exchanges. I do not consider that any additional powers are necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many industrial concerns do not notify their vacancies and rely on an unofficial type of grapevine, which means ten men going after every rumour of a vacancy? This leads to frustration and demoralisation among those unemployed for a long time. Will he consider whether, at least in the development districts, greater powers should not be taken to route all vacancies through the employment exchanges?

I think that we should try this through persuasion. My local exchange managers have close contact with firms in their areas and, in general, have very satisfactory arrangements for getting vacancies known and dealt with. I would be reluctant to do anything of a compulsory nature here.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that in certain industries there are agencies which abuse their position and to which employees are still paying fees for securing jobs? Is not this a matter which should be dealt with?

Those employees should know—there are plenty of opportunities to do so—that facilities in the Ministry are always available and that we will gladly seek to place them if they will come to our offices.