§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the wages inspectorate there are currently in employment; how many there were in 1980–81 and in 1979–80; how many visits of inspection there were in 1979–80 and in 1980–81 and in the current year so far; to what extent financially and numerically the wages inspectorate was subjected to public expenditure cuts in 1980 and 1981; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 16 November 1981]: On 1 September 1981 there were 235 staff employed in the wages inspectorate, of whom 114 were outdoor inspectors. The corresponding figures were 291 and 155 on 1 September 1980 and 283 and 158 on 1 September 1979. The numbers of inspections by visit were 34,807 in 1979, 34,657 in 1980 and 20,277 in 1981 (January to October).
In November 1980 the Government announced a reduction in the number of posts allocated to the inspectorate. The number of posts is being reduced to 221½, and there will be commensurate financial advantages.
At current staffing levels, and with improved methods of operation, it is anticipated that some 34,000 checks, including 24,000 inspections by visit, will have been completed by the end of December 1981.