Indusry trade body the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is considering proposals for a scheme under which recruitment agencies would be licensed.

But Recruiter has learned that licensing, which was abolished by the Conservative government of the 1990s, is not even on the government’s agenda. A DTI spokeswoman said: “Licensing is not something that has been prompted by anything we are doing, unless it is a response to the new agency regulations.” She added that the government viewed the old licensing model as ineffective.

“Under the old system, you advertised locally that you wanted to start an agency and if no one complained, and you did not have a criminal record, then you would get your licence.”

But the REC has been questioning its members about their views concerning licensing. It has led to speculation that the scheme could be a convenient way for the REC to boost its membership.

An REC spokeswoman said the body was merely trying to gauge industry opinion.

“We have not proposed anything yet – we have a huge membership and they are all going to say something different,” she said.