HC Deb 02 February 1978 vol 943 cc290-1W
Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report the text of his letter dated 22nd December 1977 to the Joint Industry Board for Electrical Contracting in which he announced his intention to use the Government's powers as client to enforce compliance with the current voluntary pay guidelines;

(2) whether he will publish in the Official Report the text of his letter dated 1st December 1977 to the heating and ventilating contractors in which he indicated his dissatisfaction with the pay settlement under the current voluntary pay guidelines;

(3) whether he will publish in the Official Report the text of principal letters and in particular that of 1st December to the Joint Industry Board for Plumbing, in which he indicated his dissatisfaction with the pay settlement in September 1976, and the two revisions of it in November, on the grounds that it did not conform with the current voluntary pay guidelines.

Mr. Harold Walker

No. I regard the text of correspondence relating to individual pay negotiations as a confidential matter with the parties concerned.

Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will indicate, for each of the wages councils which have broken the 10 per cent., voluntary pay guidelines, the number of workers employed in each on the effective date of the settlement.

Mr. Hicks

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers are covered by each of the awards listed in the answer to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham), Official Report, 26th January, c. 731–2.

Mr. John Grant

The information is as follows:

ESTIMATED
Council No of Workers
Button Manufacturing 4,000
Licensed Residential Establishment etc 390,000
Retail Bookselling and Stationery Trades 30,000
Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower 750
Hairdressing Undertakings 135,000
Licensed Non-Residential Establishment 335,000
Retail Food (England and Wales) 300,000
Retail Furnishing and Allied Trades 200,000
Retail Bread etc. (England and Wales) 62,000
Coffin Furniture and Cerement Making 600
Made-up Textiles 5,500
Retail Food (Scotland) 35,000
Laundry 65,000

NOTE. A considerable proportion of the work force in the retail and catering trades consists of part-time workers.