§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether agricultural labour gangmasters are required to register as employment agencies; and how many gangmasters are registered in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythWhether individual agricultural gangmasters are required to be licensed under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 depends upon their method of operation. If the hirer of workers exercises the control and supervision of workers hired out by a gangmaster, the gangmaster should be licensed. If the gangmaster retains control and supervision of the workers, his or her activities are those of a subcontractor and are outside the scope of the Act. There are currently two licensed gangmasters in Lincolnshire, five in Cambridgeshire and 17 in Norfolk.