§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 1 December to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short),Official Report, column 172, if she will list those organisations or individuals whose representations she has received supporting abolition of the wages councils, and those who oppose the proposal.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythNo. Representations are treated on the basis that they have been offered "in confidence".
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates her Department has made of changes in wage levels in industries covered by wages councils as a result of their abolition.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe abolition of the wages councils will allow wages to reflect labour market conditions and the ability of companies to pay. Since 1986, when young people were removed from the minimum rates set by wages councils, their average earnings have continued to rise in real terms.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 54, if she will list the wages councils in whose areas of competence a prosecution was brought for each of the lowest levels of payment in each region in each year since 1986.
617W
§ Mr Michael ForsythThe information is listed in the table.
Divisions 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 £ £ £ £ £ £ £ London — — — — — 2.48 RF — South East 0.88 NF 1.60 RF 1.29 HU 1.50 RF 1.42 HU — — Eastern 1.15 HU — 1.23 RF — — — — South West — — 1.55 RF 1.60 UPR 1.74 RF 2.18 HU 1.87 RF Midlands — 1.375 NF 1.20 RF 2.04 RF — — 2.30 LR North West — 1.60 RF 1.75 RF — — 1.50 RF — Yorkshire and Humberside — — 1.92 RF 2.19 RF 2.00 RF not 1.50 RF 1.70 RF Northern — — — 1.91 NF available RF 1.25 RF 2.00 RF Scotland — — — — — 2.48 RF 1.60 LR Key to Wages Council names.
HU = Hairdressing Undertaking.
LR = Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurants.
NF = Retail Trades (Non-food).
RF = Retail Food and Allied Trades.
UPR = Unlicensed Place of Refreshement.