HC Deb 01 May 1984 vol 59 cc184-5
14. Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many part-time workers earn less than £2.50 per hour at 1983–84 prices; what proportion of these are women workers; and what this figure represents as a proportion of women in part-time employment.

Mr. Alan Clark

In April 1983, in broad terms, about 3.5 million part-time workers were earning less than £2.50 per hour. Around seven eighths of these were women, who represented about three quarters of all part-time women workers.

Mr. Corbyn

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that 90 per cent. of part-time workers in Europe are women, 40 per cent. of whom are British workers? In the light of that fact and the vulnerability of part-time workers, will the hon. Gentleman accept the draft EEC directive, which would provide the same protection and conditions to part-time workers as are given to full-time workers, as is recommended by the Select Committee on European Legislation?

Mr. Clark

I doubt the wisdom of doing what the hon. Gentleman recommends. Wage rates are fixed by the market. If wages are artificially raised by Government or by union interference, inevitably costs will increase and jobs will be lost.

Mr. Bill Walker

Does my hon. Friend agree that many of the people who work part time are employed in the tie industry and that the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn), who has just asked a question, is making no contribution to their work?

Ms. Richardson

The Opposition are disappointed at the Government's continuing refusal to ratify the draft EEC directive on part-time employment. Is the Minister aware that part-timers—mostly women—are most often to be found on wage rates that are close to and often below wages councils minima, and that means that part-timers—again mainly women—are the vulnerable minority, as my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) suggested, and will suffer further deterioration in their living standards after the statutory protection of wages councils is withdrawn?

Mr. Clark

The hon. Lady should recollect that since 1970 women's average earnings have risen from 63 to 74 per cent. of men's. Where their wages are covered by wages councils women have a perfectly good redress under existing arrangements. The advisability of abolishing wages councils is not immediately relevant. That matter will come up for decision in a year's time.