HC Deb 21 December 1976 vol 923 cc448-9
8. Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to protect home workers from exploitation.

Mr. John Grant

No, Sir. So far as terms and conditions of employment are concerned, many home workers are already covered by wages councils. My right hon. Friend has asked the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to report to him on the operation of two wages councils which include significant numbers of home workers in their scope. So far as health and safety are concerned, I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Commission is at present considering proposals to ensure the effective protection of home workers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Mr. Madden

Does my hon. Friend accept that the 250,000 home workers—many of whom receive pitifully low wages such as a few pence an hour—represent one of the most deprived sections of the community? Will he ensure that those who are covered by wages councils receive the minimum wages laid down by statute? Will he also have a word with his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House to see whether a Select Committee can be established to inquire into the pay and conditions of home workers with a view to recommending legislation aimed at ensuring that they are protected in the way that this House would wish?

Mr. Grant

On the last point, I think I am right in saying that this problem was looked into by a Select Committee to some extent before and that that is to some extent responsible for the steps I have announced, particularly regarding ACAS and the consultative document of the Health and Safety Commission. The House can therefore take some credit for that. The general problem is very serious, and where home workers are already covered by wages councils the inspectors have powers to act. We shall take further heed of what my hon. Friend said and try to step up our efforts in that direction.

Mrs. Knight

Would not a far better way to stop exploitation of home workers be to make sure that plenty of jobs are available to people who want to work from home, many of whom are women? In that regard, will the Minister accept that it is highly necessary for the Government to change their policy of stamping on enterprise and making it impossible to start up new businesses? Would that not be better than establishing a Select Committee?

Mr. Grant

I do not know what the hon. Lady means in the latter part of her question. However, I can assure her that there are no glib solutions or easy answers to such problems.