§ 19. Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now announce the results of his inquiry 103W into the effects of the Employment Protection Act on employment.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe report of a study of the effects of employment legislation in manufacturing industry by the Policy Studies Institute, commissioned by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission, was published on 28th June. The report found that the legislation was not having a significant effect on the number of additional staff that firms take on. It goes on to point out that most British managers find that employment legislation does not discourage them from taking on new people. The majority do not find the legislation an obstacle to the shedding of surplus labour and there is little sign that it is inhibiting industrial recovery.
Copies of the report, which has been widely circulated, have also been placed in the Library of the House.