§ Mr. Penhaligonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the average arrears of underpaid wages recovered by wages inspectors for each employee covered by wages council regulations for the last 10 years.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe average arrears recovered by wages inspectors where employees have been found on inspection to be underpaid are as follows:
Year Average arrears* £ 1971 13.68 1972 15.27 1973 18.11 1974 21.27 1975 25.74 1976 37.98 1977 59.00 1978 62.65 1979 67.32 1980 74.03 * Arrears include holiday remuneration. The averages have been calculated by dividing the total amounts of arrears recovered in each year by the number of workers found to be underpaid in the relevent year.