Homeworkers (Hansard, 31 July 1984)

§ 6. Mr. David Marshall
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of homeworkers presently employed in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Gummer
There are estimated to be 285,000 people working at home in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Marshall
When will the Government take positive steps to record the number of homeworkers in this country, and when will they introduce legislation to ensure that they enjoy the same pay and conditions as other workers in the same industries?

§ Mr. Gummer
The figures are always bound to be an estimate, because of the nature of the job concerned. However, we have gone to considerable trouble to carry out a series of surveys, which will soon be concluded. The results will be published, and we shall take appropriate action.

§ Mr. Forth
Does my hon. Friend agree that homeworking is probably one of the most promising areas for future employment in Britain, particularly in regard to the development of computer technology, because of the ability of people to work with computers at home? Does he also agree, however, that there can be no question of arbitrary equal pay for home workers, as their conditions are different? They do not, for example, have to bear the cost of travelling to work, and by working at home they enjoy many other benefits which are not shared by those who work in a conventional environment.

§ Mr. Gummer
My hon. Friend is right to suggest that we should not think that all those who work at home are subject to some kind of wicked plot to keep their wages down and their conditions as poor as possible. Many people would prefer to work at home. It is, indeed, an area of activity which will grow. Modern technology makes for a very satisfactory extension of it. In my constituency it is a particularly valuable addition to the jobs available.

§ Ms. Richardson
Does the Minister not understand that the overwhelming majority of home workers, most of them women, are very poorly paid, and are not covered by any of the employment laws? Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that they are properly paid for the valuable work that they do, and that legislation is brought in to make the standards and conditions under which they work open to inspection?

§ Mr. Gummer
What the hon. Lady says is simply not correct. Large numbers of workers are covered by many different employment laws. Some are not, but many home workers are well paid for what they do. We must treat the subject with the seriousness that it deserves and act on the research which this Government have done—which the hon. Lady's Government did not do—instead of making politically-motivated comments such as hers.