§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated gross cost of the saturation wage inspections so far carried 615W out by his Department's Wages Inspectorate; and how many part-time and full-time staff have been employed in each of the eight inspections.
§ Mr. John GrantThe Wages Inspectorate costs approximately £1.45 million a year. The additional costs of the recent saturation inspections were negligible. The number of wages inspectors involved in the first phase of saturation inspections in each of the eight towns is given below. No part-time staff were involved.
Sunderland … … … 7 Newport … … … 4 Luton … … … 8 Cheltenham … … … 3 Burton-on-Trent … … … 5 Blackpool … … … 4 Wakefield … … … 5 Dundee … … … 6 42
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average amount of underpayment per employee wages inspected so far discovered in his Department's saturation wage inspections; and what percentage of employees' wages examined were found to be below the minimum levels.
§ Mr. John GrantIn the first phase, the average amount of arrears considered to be due to underpaid workers was £47.32. Of the employees whose wages and holiday payments were examined, 16.5 per cent. were found to have been underpaid.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many further phases of saturation wage inspection are currently envisaged by his Department's Wages Inspectorate.
§ Mr. John GrantTwo—including the one in progress at present—before the end of the year.
Detailed arrangements have not yet been made for 1977.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment at what stage his Department's Wages Inspectorate announce the names of towns that have been selected for saturation wage inspection; and how soon after this announcement the inspections are carried out.
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§ Mr. John GrantThe announcement is made as soon as possible after the inspections have begun.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received following the first eight saturation wage inspections.
§ Mr. John GrantI have had representations both for and against the inspections. A large number of inquiries from workers about their wages have also been received.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department's Wages Inspectorate will revisit from time to time towns where they have previously carried out saturation wage inspections; or what other procedures his Department will use to monitor the results of saturation wage inspections.
§ Mr. John GrantFollow-up visits will be made in towns where saturation inspections have been carried out.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department intends to compel employers, found to be underpaying employees during saturation wage inspections, to repay wages calculated to be due to the employee; and on what criteria his Department bases such calculations.
§ Mr. John GrantArrears are calculated as the difference between the minimum remuneration due to a worker under orders made under Section 11 of the Wages Councils Act 1959, as amended, and the amount actually paid in a period of at least two, but not exceeding six years prior to the discovery of the underpayment. Payment of arrears is always sought from the employer and proceedings for the recovery of arrears are instituted where necessary. This procedure will continue to be followed in relation to saturation wages inspections.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department's Wages Inspectorate intends to carry out saturation wage inspections in larger towns and cities, as well as in the middle-range towns so far selected.
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§ Mr. John GrantLarge towns and cities will continue to be served by the normal routine inspection programme but I do not exclude the possibility of saturation wage inspections in these places.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the percentage of employers and employees, respectively, that have not been examined by his Department's wages inspectors in each of the eight towns where saturation inspections have been carried out so far.
§ Mr. John GrantThe information in respect of employers is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The information in respect of employees is not available.