HC Deb 18 October 1976 vol 917 cc300-1W
Mr. Henderson

asked the Seretary of State for Employment how many applications have been received and approved in Scotland for temporary employment subsidy, showing the number of jobs and the cost.

Mr. Golding

As at 8th October 1976, 261 applications in respect of 20,465 jobs had been received from firms in Scotland; of these, 203 applications covering 15,347 jobs had been approved at an estimated cost of £13.500.000, assuming 12 months payment in each case.

1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970
Licensed Non-Residential Establishment
Number of firms inspected 5,685 (9.5%) 6,061 (10.2%) 7,143 (12.1%) 7,566 (13.4%) 7,199 (12.4%) 4,696 (7.9%)
Number of firms not inspected 54,319 (90.5%) 53,453 (89.8%) 52,080 (87.9%) 50,766 (86.6%) 50,944 (87.6%) 54,504 (92.1%)
Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant
Number of firms inspected 2,567 (10.7%) 2,502 (10.8%) 2,748 (12.2%) 2,573 (12.0%) 2,718 (13.3%) 2,513 (12.7%)
Number of firms not inspected 21,346 (89.3%) 20,686 (89.2%) 19,767 (87.8%) 15,559 (88.0%) 17,701 (86.7%) 17,216 (87.3%)
Unlicensed Place of Refreshment
Number of firms inspected 1,373 (6.8%) 1,548 (7.4%) 1,713 (8.1%) 1,731 (8.0%) 1,795 (7.9%) 2,049 (10.6%)
Number of firms not inspected 18,798 (93.2%) 19,235 (92.6%) 19,539 (91.9%) 19,775 (92.0%) 20,958 (92.1%) 20,412 (89.4%)

Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he proposes to take to make the Wages Council Inspectorate more effective in protecting low-paid workers within the hotel and catering industry.

Mr. John Grant

In recent months several steps have been taken to make employers and workers more aware of the Inspectorate's duties and activities. The standard leaflet explaining the wages council system was revised and its layout improved. A new simplified leaflet, "Are you entitled to a Minimum Wage", has been distributed, which indicates the coverage and purpose of wages councils, and lists the addresses and telephone numbers of the Inspectorate at which workers can make inquiries or complaints on a confidential basis.

A programme of saturation inspections in selected towns is now under way. The first phase has been completed and its results have received a good deal of publicity, both national and local. Other towns will he selected for saturation inspection in the near future. Some catering establishments have been covered. Both the saturation inspections themselves and the resulting publicity should