§ Mr. GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of underpayment the Wages Inspectorate investigated in the north-west division in each of the past five years; how many were the results of complaints by staff; how many were the results of routine spot checks; and what were the outcomes.
§ Mr. NichollsThe information requested for 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 is given in the table. I shall arrange for the figures for 1987 to be published in theOfficial Report when they become available. The table cannot be taken as indicating the general level of compliance with wages council orders in the north-west division, because the inspectorate tends to concentrate its visits on establishments where underpayments appear more likely to be found.
§ Mr. NichollsProvision for parental leave in the United Kingdom is on a voluntary basis. I understand that other member states of the EC have a statutory basis for parental leave, but that there are fundamental variations in the range and scope of these provisions.