§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research he has conducted into the implications of abolishing wages councils.
§ Mr. NichollsA large body of evidence exists on the implications for pay and jobs of the abolition of wages councils. This includes studies undertaken or commissioned by the Department which have been listed in previous parliamentary answers (Official Report 21 February 1985, col. 516 and 18 June 1985, col. 92). Virtually all of the research work on this subject conducted in the 1980s and known to the Department supports the view that removing statutory minimum wage provisions can be expected to have beneficial effects on employment.