asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the role of the professional and executive register.

My assessment awaits receipt of a report, from the Manpower Services Commission, on a review of the role of professional and executive recruitment—PER—during the six years it has operated on a commercial basis and the future role of the public employment service at professional and executive levels.I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the review has been completed and I expect to receive the review report very shortly together with the views of the Commission.