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Proceeding contribution from Keith Vaz (Labour) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 21 March 2006. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Managed Migration.


Managed Migration

No, that is not the reason. The right hon. Gentleman can go and visit his fine Indian restaurant in St. Albans. I dined in the Royal Bengal with his next-door neighbour, the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), only last Thursday, when we talked about the chefs who come to Hertfordshire. They come there because those restaurants advertise in jobcentres and in the ethnic press. They advertise to find somebody who is able to take up that employment at the price that is right for the industry. They get no responses because nobody wants to work in those restaurants, not because of the price, but because they do not have the skills. The problem is partly cultural. The Home Secretary said that his special adviser on these matters was Mrs. Delia Smith. I picked up the last Delia Smith cookbook, but I saw no curries in it. The Home Secretary and the Minister think the answer is to set up training schools for chefs. The younger generation do not want to become chefs. They want to find other careers. The right hon. Gentleman shakes his head. He can come with me and I will show him restaurants. The younger generation do not want careers in that industry. It is not a question of money. That is why restaurant owners have to look abroad.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
444 c246-7 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Immigration controls Management Migration Migrant workers Skilled workers
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk