HC Deb 10 July 1979 vol 970 cc133-4W
Mr. Ernie Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to call a meeting of the advisory committee on Homeworking; and if he will extend the terms of reference of the committee to include trades not covered by wages councils.

Mr. Jim Lester,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9 July 1979; Vol. 970, c. 75], gave the following answer:

The Government are considering whether any special action is appropriate in regard to homeworking and the continuation and extent of the committee's work will be part of this consideration; in this connection I shall be replying to a recent letter from the general secretary of the TUC and I shall be seeing the hon. Member for Bury and Radcliffe (Mr. White) and others on 17 July.

The terms of reference of the committee do not exclude homeworkers in non-wages council trades.

Mr. Ernie Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to reintroduce the Homeworkers (Protection) Bill 1978.

Mr. Jim Lester,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9 July 1979; Vol. 970, c. 75], gave the following answer:

MACCLESFIELD EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AREA
Industry group 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6 13 10 19 24 15
Mining and quarrying 3 3 4 2 3 2
Food, drink and tobacco 3 1 5 8 7 3
Coal and petroleum products 1 1
Chemicals and allied industries 15 21 28 35 57 35
Metal manufacture 1 6 4 5 3 6
Mechanical engineering 23 78 74 63 82 47
Instrument engineering 2 1
Electrical engineering 5 9 13 15 17 4
Shipbuilding and marine engineering 1 2
Vehicles 1 2 5 6 5 9
Metal goods not elsewhere specified 9 20 18 23 20 5
Textiles 41 142 147 97 102 92
Leather, leather goods and fur 1 1 2 3
Clothing and footwear 8 15 21 22 42 31
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc. 4 6 8 5 7 4
Timber, furniture, etc. 3 7 4 11 9 3

Not at the present time. We shall keep the matter under review.

Mr. Ernie Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many home visits were made by wages inspectorate official to homeworkers during the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will take steps to give wages inspectors authority to inspect the conditions of work of homeworkers, other than by invitation.

Mr. Jim Lester,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9 July 1979; Vol. 970, c. 75], gave the following answer:

During 1978 wages inspectors checked the earnings of 2,146 homeworkers; many of these were visited but records of the precise numbers were not kept. Records kept since September 1978, however, show that in the six-month period ending 31 March 1979, 689 visits were made to homeworkers. My right hon. Friend has no intention of extending wages inspectors' right of entry into private homes.

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