HC Deb 18 February 1975 vol 886 cc1096-7
16. Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning provisions for homeworkers in the Employment Protection Bill.

Mr. Harold Walker

A number of points about the operation of the Wages Councils Act in relation to homeworkers have been raised, principally by the TUC, and have been the subject of discussion between officials of my Department and of the TUC.

Mr. Rooker

Does my hon. Friend accept that the TUC deserves congratulation on taking up at long last the plight of the homeworkers? Is he aware that only about half of the many thousands of homeworkers are registered with local authorities as required by law? If he does not include them in the Employment Protection Bill, will he take steps to tighten up that regulation?

Mr. Walker

I know that my hon. Friend has done a lot of homework on this subject and will therefore be aware that the requirement for registration under the Factories Act is limited to a number of scheduled trades and occupations and is primarily for health and safety purposes. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act empowers the Health and Safety Commission to introduce a more comprehensive register. I agree that there is a problem here. I am glad that the TUC has drawn attention to it. We are giving further careful consideration to how best we can tackle the problem of homeworkers and the need for more protection for them.

Mr. Tomlinson

Does my hon. Friend accept that there will be a major travesty if the Employment Protection Bill does not adequately deal with this vast area of exploited labour? This is a section in which large numbers of people are totally exploited. The Employment Protection Bill will have a hollow ring unless it deals with this problem.

Mr. Walker

One way in which the Employment Protection Bill will make a contribution—I do not pitch it any higher—is by the inclusion of a provision to amend the definition of "worker" as defined in the Wages Councils Act, so that it will clearly cover homeworkers. This will give wages councils more effective power to safeguard homeworkers' earnings. Many homeworkers are not in wages councils industries. I recognise that there is a problem here and, as I said, we are giving very careful consideration, particularly in the light of two recent CIR reports, to how best to follow up the recommendations made by the CIR. I have in mind particularly CIR Report No. 77.