§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in considering official recommendations which have been made to him to abolish certain wages councils, he has effective means of ascertaining how many of the employees affected are paid-up members of a trade union.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerOrganisations making joint application for abolition have been asked to state the extent of their membership. Where abolition has been considered following an inquiry, the report of the commission undertaking the inquiry has given sufficient indication of the extent of voluntary collective agreements for the Secretary of State to satisfy himself that a wages council is no longer needed.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the occupations of employees covered by wages councils, his estimate of the number of workers involved and how many of these have received threshold increases.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI regret that it is not possible to collate the information required in the time available. I will write to my hon. Friend.