asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that job-centres should not seek to fill company vacancies with applicants who are self-employed.

No. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the public employment service, that jobcentres and employment offices will help to place any person as an employee with a company offering a contract of service, whether or not the person has previously worked in a self-employed capacity. It is not the policy of the Manpower Services Commission to place people in vacancies under a contract for services.