§ Mr, Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Empolyment if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Dover and Deal (Mr. Rees), Official Report, 8th December, column 792, he will publish figures for the number of workers covered in each of the wage council awards over the last two years which were listed in that answer.
§ Mr. John Grant:I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 12th December 1978. Not all workers covered by wages councils receive the statutory minimum and are directly affected by movements in it: many receive higher pay and better conditions by virtue of voluntary agreements.