§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, Official Report, 9th January, c. 644, why he has made no reliable estimate of the total number of home workers in Great Britain;
(2) if he will now take steps to ascertain the total number of home workers in Great Britain.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
Homeworkers are not normally employees and consequently they were not included in either the employment figures derived from counts of national insurance cards or the Census of Employment figures which replaced the "card count" figures in 1971. There are at present no reliable statistics about the total number of home workers, but the possibility of obtaining this information from the 1981 Census of Population is being considered by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply. Official Report, 9th January, c. 645, for what reasons it would be disproportionately costly to find out how many home workers are women, disabled and immigrants, respectively; and what is his estimate of such a cost.
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§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
The information is not available in current statistics and would, therefore, require a special survey; the estimated cost of this would be of the order of £500,000.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 645, what discussions he has held with the Health and Safety Commission regarding requirements for home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
None. I await the Commission's formal proposals for regulations concerning the health and safety of home workers. Any necessary discussions will follow.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the date on which the Government will put forward proposals to improve the safety of home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
I am awaiting proposals from the Health and Safety Commission.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 646, if he has had discussions with the Health and Safety Executive about the fact that no employers employing home workers have been prosecuted for failing to meet the provisions of the Factories Act; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
No.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 646, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that 624W wages inspectors examine the wages of a reasonable number of home workers;
(2) if he will recommend that wages councils inspectors should devote more time to checking the pay and conditions of home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
I am satisfied that the proportion of time spent investigating the remuneration of home workers is reasonable in relation to the total commitments of the Wages Inspectorate.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 646, what discussions he has had with Wages Council inspectors about the fall in the number of inspections they have carried out of home workers' wages from 3,440 in 1975 to 1,134 in 1976.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to Ms reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
I have frequent discussions with the Wages Inspectorate. One of the main reasons for the fall is that in 1976 the Inspectorate devoted much of its time to blitz inspections in the catering and retail trades and hairdressing, which do not employ home workers. However, the amount of arrears collected in 1976 by wages inspectors on behalf of home workers was higher than in 1975—£2,469 compared with £2,206.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of Sine for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 646, when he expects to receive the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service reports on two wages council industries.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
My right hon. Friend expects to receive the report on the Button Manufacturing Wages Council within the next week and that on the Toy Manufacturing Wages Council by late spring of this year.
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§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, col. 646, why he will not institute a departmental inquiry into piece rates and wages rates of home workers until he has received Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service reports.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January, 1978; Vol. 942, col. 265–8], gave the following information:
Because the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is the expert body established to deal with matters concerning the application of statutory wage regulation.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, col. 646, what is his estimate of the number of home workers engaged in industries other than those covered by the two wages councils mentioned in his reply.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January, 1978; Vol. 942, col. 265–8], gave the following information:
Numbers of homeworkers within scope of wages councils, other than Button Manufacturing and Toy Manufacturing, are estimated at:
Corset 250 Dressmaking and women's light clothing 10,000 Hat, cap and millinery 1,000 Lace finishing 1,000 Linen and cotton handkerchief 50 Made-up textiles Very Small Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower 100 Perambulator 100 Pin, hook and eye and snap fastener 750 Ready-made and wholesale bespoke tailoring 1,800 Retail bespoke tailoring 1,200 Rope twine and net 1,250 Rubber-proofed garment making 100 Sack and bag 750 Shirtmaking 1,400 Wholesale mantle and costume 2,500
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to in 626W crease the fine for failure to make complete returns to local authorities on the number of home workers employed from £20 to £500.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January, 1978; Vol. 942, col. 265–8], gave the following information:
I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 12th January 1978.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State fo Employment if he will seek legislation to define home workers as employees for the purposes of the Redundancy Payments Act 1965, the Contracts of Employment Act 1973, the Trade Union Labour Relations Act 1974 and the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:
I shall consider the position of home workers under the first three of these Acts in the light of the views of the TUC and other interested organisations. The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act, in particular the duties of suppliers of materials for use at work, already gives protection to all home workers whether they are employees or self-employed, and I do not, therefore, see any need to define home workers as employees for the purposes of that Act.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the statutory minimum rate for each of the last five years in each industry covered by wages councils which employs home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:
The minimum piece work rates, inclusive of supplements where applicable, payable to home workers are those which would yield not less than the following hourly rates for an "ordinary worker".
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Wages Council Date from which rate applied 1973 Date from which rate applied 1974 Date from which rate applied 1975 Date from which rate applied 1976 Date from which rate applied 1977 Males Pence Females Pence Males Pence Females Pence Males Pence Females Pence Pence Pence Button Manufacture* 1.3.72 20.00 3.5.74 25.00 8.10.75 37.00 30.7.76 40.00 13.10.77 50.00 24.5.74 28.00 2.6.74 30.00 8.11.74 33.00 Corset 13.3.73 40.75 34.00 11.4.74 45.25 40.50 17.4.75 57.25 54.50 15.1.76 57.25 17.4.77 78.50 17.4.76 72.25 Dressmaking and Womens 1.4.73 43.75 37.00 3.5.74 48.75 44.00 26.3.75 57.75 55.25 25.3.76 75.75 25.3.77 82.00 Light Clothing (England and Wales) 31.3.75 60.75 58.25 Dressmaking and Womens 9.4.73 40.50 36.00 14.3.74 40.50 36.00 27.2.75 48.00 48.00 30.6.76 71.75 30.6.77 78.00 Light Clothing (Scotland). 8.7.74 44.50 42.50 30.6.75 56.75 56.75 Hat, Cap and Millinery* 28.2.73 39.50 32.97 5.6.74 45.01 40.06 1.4.75 57.12 52.60 1.4.76 72.11 1.4.77 78.36 30.10.75 62.46 62.46 Lace Finishing 30.8.72 25.00 11.7.74 31.125 26.6.75 45.00 26.6.76 52.00 26.6.77 58.25 19.7.74 31.225 16.8.74 31.325 18.10.74 31.425 Linen and Cotton Hand 13.9.72 37.50 32.00 14.1.74 41.50 38.35 13.5.75 58.50 57.43 7.6.76 74.50 6.6.77 80.75 kerchief, etc. 1.9.73 37.50 35.00 1.9.74 41.50 40.43 1.9.75 59.50 59.50 Made-up Textile 28.2.73 41.00 34.00 30.4.74 46.12 41.62 29.1.75 57.62 55.12 29.1.76 74.62 29.1.77 80.87 2.6.75 59.62 59.62 Ostrich, Fancy Feather and 24.1.72 26.40 24.4.74 36.14 24.9.75 55.12 30.4.76 68.62 24.10.77 91.12 Artificial Flower. 11.4.73 29.81 22.10.74 44.14 31.12.75 61.87 24.9.76 74.87 Perambulator and Invalid 31.1.72 37.20 31.56 31.12.73 41.20 38.04 28.4.75 71.16 70.56 26.4.76 86.16 25.4.77 92.41 Carriage. 1.4.73 41.20 38.04 15.7.74 55.19 51.59 30.12.75 71.16 71.16 19.7.74 56.19 52.59 16.8.74 57.19 53.59 18.10.74 58.19 54.59 630W631W
Wages Council Date from which rate applied 1973 Date from which rate applied 1974 Date from which rate applied 1975 Date from which rates applied 1976 Date from which rates applied 1977 Males Pence Females Pence Males Pence Females Pence Males Pence Females Pence Pence Pence Pin, Hook and Eye* and 5.6.72 20.50 30.4.74 30.50 1.3.75 41.00 22.11.76 58.00 25.11.77 64.00 Snap Fastener. 1.8.73 25.50 5.11.74 37.00 24.11.75 52.0 Ready-made and Whole- 28.2.73 42.25 34.33 6.2.74 46.75 38.83 12.12.74 58.75 54.83 19.1.76 73.75 19.1.77 80.00 sale Bespoke Tailoring. 24.6.74 46.75 40.83 12.12.74 58.75 54.83 Retail Bespoke Tailoring 25.5.72 42.08 25.5.74 53.00 19.2.75 68.68 19.2.76 81.68 19.2.77 87.93 (England and Wales). 6.8.73 47.04 Retail Bespoke Tailoring 30.6.71 31.25 26.25 29.5.74 39.875 37.375 3.2.75 57.50 55.00 20.1.76 57.50 3.2.77 78.75 (Scotland). 21.6.74 41.875 39.375 3.2.76 69.55 19.7.74 42.875 40.375 16.8.74 43.875 41.375 18.10.74 44.875 42.375 Rubber-proofed Garment 1.3.73 42.80 39.55 25.3.74 47.30 44.05 24.2.75 59.30 58.22 12.1.76 59.30 24.2.77 80.55 Making. 25.6.74 47.30 45.12 24.2.76 74.30 Rope, Twine and Net 14.6.72 32.50 32.50 14.6.74 47.00 47.00 31.3.75 55.00 55.00 26.7.76 75.75 25.7.77 82.00 23.7.73 38.50 38.50 21.6.74 49.00 49.00 31.7.75 60.75 60.75 19.7.74 50.00 50.00 16.8.74 51.00 51.00 18.10.74 52.00 52.00 Sack and Bag 28.6.72 34.40 30.80 31.12.73 39.40 36.50 31.3.75 55.40 52.50 12.7.76 75.00 11.7.77 81.25 28.6.73 39.40 35.80 28.6.74 49.40 46.50 16.7.75 60.00 58.60 19.7.74 50.40 47.50 1.12.75 60.00 60.00 16.8.74 51.40 48.50 18.10.74 52.40 49.50 Shirt Making 13.3.73 40.25 34.00 22.5.74 44.75 40.50 13.1.75 56.75 54.50 16.1.76 71.75 16.1.77 78.00 Toy Manufacture 20.12.72 40.07 34.43 11.3.74 46.75 41.91 24.12.74 55.00 50.16 20.6.76 77.70 23.6.77 83.95 19.11.74 55.00 50.16 23.6.75 62.70 60.50 Wholesale Mantle and Costume. 20.3.73 42.25 34.33 24.5.74 46.75 40.83 6.1.75 58.75 54.83 16.1.76 73.75 16.1.77 80.00 * Special rates for home workers—rates quoted for female home workers only 1973–75.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek legislation to impose a duty on employers to provide details of home workers to his Department and to the appropriate trade union.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:
I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that this is one of the issues under consideration by the Commission following the comments received on the consultative document "Work in Domestic Premises."
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will move for a Select Committee to inquire into the problems of home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:
I will consider what further steps should be taken when I have the reports from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service on two wages councils which cover significant numbers of home workers.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that some home workers are invited to sit on wages councils.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:
Under the Wages Councils Act 1959, as amended by the Employment Protection Act 1975, members of wages councils are appointed by employers' associations and trade unions nominated for the purpose by the Secretary of State. Only where the organisations provide an insufficient number of members is he empowered to appoint members himself. Persons have been appointed to the workers' side of the Lace Finishing Wages Council to represent home workers.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what special provision he is making for retraining of home workers.
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§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that no special provisions are made for training or retraining home workers. Where they are employees of a firm which is in scope to an industrial training board they will be covered by all the normal training arrangements and practices. Training courses under the training opportunities scheme are equally available to home workers as to those who will be employed in employers' establishments.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the TUC about the position of home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:
None. I understand, however, that a TUC working party has been examining the matter and that I shall be receiving its report shortly. Discussions with the TUC are likely to take place thereafter.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the CBI about the position of home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:
None, but I expect to have such discussions following the outcome of current inquiries into the situation.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of wage council inspectors' time is taken on inspection of: (a) factories and (b) home worker premises.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
The information is not available. No separate record is kept of time taken on individual inspections.
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§ Mr. Jack Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of home workers dealing with dangerous substances.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that one of the purposes of the proposed new registration requirements is to make information available about the substances supplied to home workers so that the enforcing authorities can take any necessary action if the substances are considered to be dangerous.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the health and safety conditions of home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
No. I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that one of the major purposes of the proposed new registration requirements is to make information available about the hazards faced by home workers so that steps can be taken to improve conditions where they are less than satisfactory.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Commission about the safety of home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c 265–8], gave the following information:
None. I await the Commission's formal proposals for regulations concerning the health and safety of home workers. Any necessary discussions will follow.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to seek to prohibit the use of materials involving risk in work allocated to home workers.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 634W 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:
I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the consultative document on "Work in Domestic Premises" published by the Commission in August 1976 proposed that the giving out of certain materials to home workers should be prohibited completely, while other materials should only be permitted to be given out under certain conditions. This is one of the issues under consideration by the Commission following the comments received on the consultative document.