§ 42. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list group by group the industries and services which are understaffed on the grounds of low pay ; and what measures he is taking to deal with this problem.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkSeveral factors may contribute to understaffing and it is impossible to identify the precise effect of low pay in a particular industry. It is a basic objective of the counter-inflation policy to improve the position of the low-paid. The stage 3 code favours the lower-paid in a number of ways, including the provisions for an alternative pay limit of £2.25, for continued movement towards equal pay and for cash payments under the cost of living safeguard.