§ Miss Wrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms in England, listed by employment office area, receive support currently from the temporary short-time working schemes; how many persons are affected; and how many applications are outstanding.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI regret that the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
However, the following table shows the number of jobs supported and the number of workers on short-time, covered by approved claims in the month of June 1980, together with the number of applications awaiting consideration, for each region.
earnings under the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act should be increased to 100 per cent. of normal weekly earnings; if he will seek to make such an increase; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MayhewMy right hon. Friend is still considering the matter, especially in the light of the implications for maternity 125W pay and maternity allowance of the employers' statutory sick pay scheme proposed in the Green Paper "Income during initial sickness: A new strategy".