HC Deb 31 January 1978 vol 943 cc224-5
4. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women in employment are covered by protective legislation.

Mr. John Grant

About 9 million women—all those in employment with the exception of domestic servants in private households—are covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Of these, about 1½ million are subject to the relevant statutory provisions which differentiate in their treatment of men and women.

Mrs. Short

I am obliged for that information. Is my hon. Friend aware that that figures includes women working in bakeries and laundries and working as office cleaners and so on who are outside the scope of the 1961 Act as it deals with long and unsocial hours? Ought not my hon. Friend to look at this whole question of unsocial hours as it affects particularly women, but men as well because they, too, are affected?

Mr. Grant

I know that my hon. Friend has had a long-standing interest in unsocial hours of work, including unsocial hours in this place. I have much sympathy for her views. However, the whole question is currently being reviewed by the Equal Opportunities Commission, which has a responsibility under the Sex Discrimination Act to keep the matter under review. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked for its report and findings by the end of this year.

Mr. Wise

Will my hon. Friend make quite sure that no changes are made which will make it easier for bad employers to exploit women, because women are in many ways still at a disadvantage in the labour market? Equality should not mean any worsening of conditions for anybody. Let men have the same conditions as women.

Mr. Grant

The Commission is taking evidence from a wide range of bodies and individuals, including the TUC and the CBI and, of course, the Health and Safety Executive. Therefore, my hon. Friend's point will be covered and taken very much into account.