§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the findings revealed by examination of the records of the Wages Inspectorate in the West of Scotland which has shown that the proportion of establishments found to be paying less than statutory minimum rates rose from 15 per cent. in 1969 to 31.5 per cent. in 1976, despite the fall in the rate of inspections during the period.
§ Mr. John Grant:I am very concerned about this rise, which is unfortunately the same as in other parts of the United Kingdom. As my hon. Friend knows, we are tackling the problem in a number of different ways. In particular, I hope that the changes in the working methods of the Wages Inspectorate which I announced in the House on 28th November will in the longer term reduce the extent of underpayment.