TNAG-0321-FCO40-357-Effect-of-1971-UK-Immigration-Bill-on-entry-of-Chinese-from--1971 — Page 89

"CCA

the 1,700 vouchers now available in this category are issued on a first

come first served basis (except that no country may have more than 15%

of the total number of vouchers issued in this Category) only for work:-

In manufacturing industry,

a.

b.

Obtained through an approved recruitment scheme operated by a

Commonwealth Government or a British employer in co-operation

with a Commonwealth Government, or,

which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State for Employment,

is of substantial economic or social value to the UK.

Vouchers are not issued even in these categories if suitable resident labour

is available to fill the job offered. All the available vouchers are issued

and there is a waiting list at present of over 2,000 applications.

13. It is proposed that under the interim scheme only 700 vouchers will be

issued in this category. With the present criteria, and if there is no

change in the rate at which applications are received, there would be a

rapid and excessive increase in the waiting list which would make nonsense

of linking the issue of a voucher to a vacancy existing at the time of

application. It is therefore proposed to introduce the stricter criteria,

already agreed for the permanent work permit scheme, and issue vouchers

against employer's applications only for:-

a.

Those holding professional qualifications and managerial and

executive staff,

b.

Skilled craftsmen and experienced technicians,

C.

Specialised secretarial and clerical staff,

d.

Those coming to do work which in the opinion of the Secretary

of State for Employment is of substantial economic or social

value to this country.

14. Within these criteria vouchers will continue to be issued on a "first

come first served" basis; no vouchers will be issued if suitable resident

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