§ Mr. John Grant asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates he has made of the effect of his proposed reduced staffing levels in the Wages Inspectorate on: (a) the annual recovery of arrears from employers for employees suffering under payment of statutory minimum wage rates and conditions and (b) the number of prosecutions brought by the Wages Inspectorate.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1980]: It it not possible to make such an estimate.
§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the chairmen or other members of wages councils about his proposed cuts in Wages Inspectorate staffing levels.
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§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1980]: None; the cuts arise out of the Government's decision to reduce Civil Service manpower.
§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the reduction in the level of inspection by the Wages Inspectorate which he now proposes.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1980]: My right hon. Friend proposes to reduce the level of inspection to that which applied for many years prior to 1978, that is approximately 10 per cent. of establishments listed, including investigation of all complaints.
§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the establishment figures respectively for wages inspectors and for other Wages Inspectorate staff at 1 May 1979, 1 December 1979 1 December 1980; and what reduction he proposes to make respectively in these staffing levels and by which date.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1980]: The establishment figures on 1 May 1979 and thereafter were 177 outdoor inspectors and 141 other staff. It is proposed to reduce these numbers to 119 and 91 respectively over the next three years.