§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has studied the pamphlet "Poverty Wages on Merseyside" published by the Low Pay Unit, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what steps he intends to take in response to this report.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI have read the pamphlet. It discusses a number of issues relating to poverty and low pay. The statistics quoted for the area covered by the north-west (west) division of the Wages Inspectorate (which includes Merseyside) do not give a complete picture. In 1983, 6.6 per cent. of the workers whose pay was checked by inspectors were found to have been underpaid. This is near the national figure of 6.3 per cent. The inspectorate increased visiting activity in the division during 1983 and is doing so again this year.