§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms visited by wage inspectors during 1979, 1980 and to the latest available date in 1981 were found to be breaking the law were prosecuted.
§ Mr. AlisonThe numbers of employers prosecuted for offences under the Wages Councils Act 1979 were 12 in 1979, nine in 1980 and 10 in 1981.
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§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of firms visited by wage inspectors during 1979, 1980 and to the latest available date in 1981 were found to be paying less than the legally required minimum rate.
§ Mr. AlisonA total of 31.5 per cent. of establishments at which checks were made in 1979 were found by the Wages Inspectorate to be paying less than the statutory minimum rates.
The corresponding figure for 1980 was 35.1 per cent. Statistics are compiled on an annual basis and the figure for 1981 is not yet available.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now restore the cuts made to the Wages Inspectorate and take steps to increase the number of inspectors to ensure effective enforcement of the law; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonNo. I regard the size of the inspectorate as adequate.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the estimated loss of income to low-paid workers due to underpayments of wages by firms in 1979, 1980 and to the latest available date in 1981.
§ Mr. AlisonMy Department has no information on which such an estimate can be based. In the wages council trades underpayments amounting to approximately £1.7 million in 1979 and £2.3 million in 1980 were found by the Wages Inspectorate. The total for 1981 is not yet available. However, the establishments visited by inspectors are not a representative sample of all wages council establishments and it would not be appropriate to use the foregoing figures to estimate the total amount underpaid in wages council trades.
§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take new steps to reduce underpayment to workers in wages council industries.
§ Mr. AlisonNo specific new steps are planned at present. However, the Wages Inspectorate is constantly improving its inspection methods and is continuing to seek new ways of making the most effective use of the expertise currently available. In addition, wages councils are working on the simplification of Wages Orders so that they can be more readily understood by employers and workers.