asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been approved under the employment transfer scheme in each of the past three years of operation; and if he will make a statement on the future of the scheme in the light of the prevailing levels of unemployment in the United Kingdom.

The number of applications approved in Great Britain under the employment transfer scheme for the past three financial years of operation are:

1 April 1979–31 March 1980 = 9,785

1 April 1980–31 March 1981 = 5,668

1 April 1981–31 March 1982 = 5,367

It is intended that this scheme will continue to be available to unemployed people to encourage them to move home permanently to fill vacancies which cannot be filled with local labour.