§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the regional disposition of the Wages Inspectorate and list the number of wages council firms in each region and the numbers employed.
§ Mr. GoldingThe regional disposition of wages inspectors in post as at 30th April 1976 and the number of establishments on wages councils lists as at 1st October 1975 was as follows:
Region Inspectors Establishments on List South-East 41 153,375 South-West 8 37,573 Midlands 19 66,518 North-West 18 60,328 Yorkshire and Humberside 12 45,006 Northern 8 25,209 Scotland 14 45,801 Wales 7 23,846 We have no information as to the number of workers within scope of wages councils in each region.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the Wages Inspectorate to be up to full strength.
§ Mr. GoldingThere are approximately 10 vacancies in the wages inspectorate at present, and we are making efforts to fill them urgently.