§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish his Department's estimate of how many people in fulltime employment receive gross wages of £21.60 per week or less; and if he will state that figure as a percentage of the total number of people in full-time employment.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 1 August 1980, c. 871–2]: A precise estimate is not available from official surveys, but the number would be very small and less than 0.1 per cent. of all full-time employees.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the three lowest determinations, in terms of minimum wage rates, of wages councils or similar statutory bodies in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 1 August 1980, c. 871–2]: The three lowest weekly statutory minimum time rates current for adult workers employed in main provincial areas which have been determined in the last 12 months are:
£ Hairdressing Undertakings Wages Council (GB) (18 December 1979) 31.00 Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant Wages Council (6 October 1979) 41.20 Made-up Textiles Wages Council (GB) (23 October 1979) 45.00 Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower Wages Council (GB) (23 October 1979) 45.00 Certain wages councils provide higher rates in London.