§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give his definition of the "lump"; and what is his estimate of the number of persons engaged in this practice.
§ Mr. FreesonThe "lump" is not a precise term. Broadly, it covers the case where a leader takes on work by the piece and organises self-employed men, instead of employees, to carry it out.
The Department estimates that there are now about 100,000 men full-time on the "lump" and that, including part-time working, the total man years per annum worked by the "lump" may be about 200,000. The numbers are thought to have been declining in recent months.