Tony Blair told the House of Commons
that there are increasing employment opportunities in the UK IT
industry, despite the problems many skilled professionals face in
finding work.
"Unemployment has fallen dramatically over the
past few years and there are increasing employment opportunities
for people in IT and other sectors as well," Blair said during this
week's Prime Ministers' questions in the House of Commons.
The prime minister was responding to
Conservative MP Andrew Selous who had expressed his concern that
21,000 IT work permits are granted each year, while 56,000 British
IT professionals are out of work.
Blair said that increased activity in the
economy was partly behind the growing number of work permits being
issued.
"Those who get work permits are specifically
audited for their ability to get work in this country - people want
them to work for them - and I do not think that it is right to set
those people against those who are looking for work," he said.
The Professional Contractors' Group, which
represents the interests of freelance IT professionals in the UK,
expressed surprise at the prime minister's remarks.
Newly elected PCG chairman Simon Griffiths
said, "It is alarming if the prime minister is unaware of the fact
that so many highly skilled IT freelancers are currently without
work and we believe the long-term consequences of this will blunt
the UK's competitive edge."
The PCG has been at the forefront of a
campaign to get IT taken off the Work Permits UK skills sector
shortage list and has previously raised the issue with Home Office
minister Beverley Hughes.
Following the prime minister's comments, the
PCG is asking all UK contractors that are out of work to e-mail
them, with the responses being forwarded to No 10.
Details can be sent to
outofcontract@pcg.org.uk.