§ 5. Mr. Whitlockasked the Minister of Labour whether he will increase the number of wages inspectors.
§ Mr. WhitlockIs it not a fact that for some years less than 10 per cent. of the establishments on the Wages Councils lists have been inspected and that as a result of these inspections over £100,000 per year has been recovered for employees who have been underpaid? Are we not entitled to assume from those figures that about £1 million a year remains in the pockets of unscrupulous and forgetful employers which should go into the pockets of people who are covered by these orders? Is it not time that these miserably low rates of pay were effectively enforced?
§ Mr. HareI can only repeat that I am satisfied that the present system is working. I am glad to say that in the past five years the proportion of employees found to be underpaid has fallen. I would take some action if I felt there was need for it, but I am satisfied with the present arrangements.