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Employment Ratios

Volume 979: debated on Thursday 21 February 1980

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asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the most recent ratio of vacancies to persons employed in Wales and in each region of England, respectively.

The following table gives the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at January 1980 and the provisional numbers of employees in employment at September 1979, the latest date for which employment information is available. The vacancy figures relate only to those notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of this, and possible duplication between the separate figures for employment offices and careers offices, the two figures should not be added together and cannot be used to provide the ratios requested.trade unions in Great Britain greater scope for secondary industrial action than does trade union law in other countries.From the information available to my Department it would appear that closed shop arrangements are unlawful in most member countries with the exception, in certain circumstances, of Ireland and Netherlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the immunities from normal legal actions which trade unions enjoy.

Section 14 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 provides trade unions—and employers' associations—with immunity from actions in tort against them in their own name for all acts done in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute. It also provides immunity from any action in tort arising out of other acts except where the action is in respect of negligence, nuisance or breach of duty resulting in personal injury, or of breach of any duty in connection with the ownership, occupation, possession, control or use of property.Section 13 of the 1974 Act—as amended by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Amendment) Act 1976—provides certain immunities for individuals for acts done in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute which induce or threaten breaches of contracts or interference with their performance.

1 January 19751 January 1980
OfficeCadreOfficeCadre
Attleborough, Employment Office1Attleborough, Employment Office
Cromer, Employment Office4Cromer, Employment Office4
Dereham, Employment Office3Dereham, Employment Office4
Diss, Employment OfficeDiss, Jobcentre5
Downham Market, Employment Office3Downham Market, Jobcentre3
Fakenham, Employment Office3Fakenham, Employment Office4
Great Yarmouth, Employment Office17½Great Yarmouth, Jobcentre19·
Hunstanton, Employment Office2Hunstanton, Employment Office1
Kings Lynn, Employment Office14½Kings Lynn, Jobcentre20
North Walsham, Employment OfficeNorth Walsham, Jobcentre
Norwich, Employment Office39Norwich, Employment Office49½
Swaffham, Employment Office2Swaffham, Jobcentre
Thetford, Employment Office5Thetford, Jobcentre5
Wymondham, Employment Office5Wymondham, Employment Office
There will be no immediate increase in staff when Norwich jobcentre opens. However, if business increases, as is anticipated, this will be reviewed in the light of the jobcentre's need and the Government's plans to reduce Civil Service staffing levels.