§ 13 Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates are available for the numbers employed as homeworkers and their rates of pay; what additional steps he is taking to assist those workers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantNo reliable estimates are available. Homeworkers within the scope of a wages council must receive not less than the statutory minimum rate laid down by the council. I am awaiting the report of ACAS on two wages councils in which substantial homeworking is found. In the light of that, the Government will consider what further steps should be taken.
§ Mr. RobertsIs my hon. Friend aware that one recent survey suggested that there were up to half a million people at one time involved in homeworking and that about four-fifths of these were paid less than 30p an hour? In view of the scale of exploitation in this sector, could he not at least give the House some idea of the Government's thinking on steps which could be taken in this direction?
§ Mr. GrantIt would be wrong for me to seek to pre-empt the inquiries being carried out by ACAS, but, of course, apart from the ACAS references, there is the question of registration. The Health and Safety Executive has published a consultation document, has received comments on it and, I understand, is likely to issue revised proposals in the near future. This should be helpful in identifying homeworkers and their employers. 260 I think that we should await both the ACAS reports and the further initiative from the Health and Safety Executive.