To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he will take to increase the number of executive job clubs; and if he will make a statement.

On 19 June my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced a further 40,000 places this year in job clubs. My right hon. and learned Friend has asked the Employment Service to take the needs of unemployed white-collar workers and executives into account when it puts this extra provision into effect.

That is, indeed, good news. The evidence from the Southampton executive job club, which serves my Constituency, is that it is doing well. Perhaps my hon. Friend will tell us a little more about the national picture. How many people will be able to enrol in job clubs and how many have done so? What is the percentage of placements back in employment? Has the Department undertaken any research to judge the cost-effectiveness of executive job clubs compared with Professional and Executive Recruitment, PER, which they replaced?

My hon. Friend is right about the success of the Southampton executive job club. There was a 68 per cent. positive outcome in that job club during 1990–91. Overall, there are more than 1,000 job clubs with 156,000 people making use of them. Of those who have gone through the clubs, 16 per cent. have gone into professional and managerial jobs. There are 30 executive clubs throughout the country and they are proving to be extremely successful. We shall, obviously, monitor the progress of the clubs. We are conducting research to see how and in what way we should expand the provision. As I have said, the clubs seem to have been extremely successful.

What emergency action is the Department of Employment taking to give advice and help to the staff of BICC, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, who face redundancy and great uncertainty about their future? What other help and advice is being given to safeguard the employment of those employed by small businesses who are dependent on the bank?

The hon. Gentleman seems to have his initials wrong. Obviously, it is extremely serious when something takes place of the sort to which he has referred. He is right to draw attention to the full range of facilities that are operated by the Employment Service, which can help many people who find themselves in difficulties with employment. The hon. Gentleman's advice, that they should make use of the service, should be taken.

Will my hon. Friend join me in welcoming the fact that a new job club is shortly to be opened in Chelmsford? Does he agree—[Interruption.]—that job clubs have an extremely good record on successfully helping people back into jobs?

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his positive attitude to job clubs. I noticed that it attracted some derision from Opposition Members. They should reflect on the considerable help that has been given to people through job clubs. Before they laugh and sneer at the clubs, they should consider the serious contribution that job clubs are making.