Small Businesses (Women Employees)

HC Deb 20 March 1980 vol 981 cc261-2W

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women are employed in enterprises employing fewer than six people.

Mr. Jim Lester

The information requested is not available.

The census of employment is conducted by means of a postal inquiry of employers. The register it uses is of paypoints from which employers send their PAYE returns to the Inland Revenue.

It is clear that there is no agreement between the parties on the appointment of numbers of Post Office union representatives to the board of the Post Office; nor does it appear that there is any prospect of agreement. In the circumstances, my right hon. Friend does not intend to bring before Parliament an order under the terms of the Post Office Act 1977 to make permanent the statutory powers permitting additional appointments to the board. These powers will therefore lapse on 31 March 1980.