§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action has been taken on recommendations 178–187 (pp. 513–514) of the Finer Committee.
§ Mr. John FraserA number of developments relating to the subject matter of this group of recommendations have taken place. These are set out below:
Recommendation 178 (rights of part-time workers)
The consultative document on the Employment Protection Bill proposed that protection under the contracts of employment, redundancy payments and unfair dismissal legislation should be extended to those working for at least 16 hours a week with one employer.
Recommendation 179 (expanding opportunities for part-time workers)
Recommendation 180 (negotiation of agreements covering maternity leave)
These recommendations are directed at employers and trade unions but the Government are in sympathy with them. The Consultative document on the Employment Protection Bill proposed that there should be statutory minimum paid maternity leave and reinstatement in the same or similar job.
Recommendation 181 (Statistics on women's employment)
This recommendation has been largely met by the publication in November of a Department of Employment booklet "Women and Work: A Statistical Survey".
Recommendation 182 (Specialist employment advisers for women workers)
Responsibility for the issues covered by Recommendations 182 and 185 to 187 lies with the Manpower Services Commission. I understand from the commission that the specialist needs of women who have to combine care of their children with employment is already recognised in the service offered to job seekers by employment advisers of the Employment Service Agency. However, guidance to staff and staff training arrangements will be reviewed to see whether greater emphasis can be given to this problem and also to the need of the employment advisers to build up a closer relationship with local authority social services departments.
Recommendation 185 (Training needs of of women employees)
The Training Services Agency of the commission has stressed to industrial training boards the importance of having regard to the training requirements of women employees in their industries, and boards are now well aware of the need to review existing women's training provisions.
480WRecommendation 186 (Increasing training opportunities for women and girls)
The Training Services Agency, in conjunction with industrial training board representatives and others interested, is preparing a report for presentation to the commission in the spring which will examine the present barriers to the training of women—including those with family responsibilities—and suggest ways of overcoming them.
Recommendation 187 (Publicity for the Training Opportunities Scheme)
Publicity for the training opportunities scheme generally is given through the Training Services Agency regional organisation and by media advertisements. In January 1975 there is to be a Press campaign to promote courses for women under the scheme.
Recommendation 183 (Careers guidance for girls in Secondary Schools)
Questions relating to curricula in schools are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. It has been standing policy for many years in the careers service to try to improve relative career prospects for girls. Every appropriate opportunity is taken to encourage young women to consider careers traditionally taken up by men.
Recommendation 184 (Extension of day release facilities)
This is principally a matter of educational policy and therefore appropriate to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.