§ 47. Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of wages council inspectors; what is the expected number for 1983; how many were in post in 1979; what is the estimated financial saving by his Department when the cutbacks in the Wages Council Inspectorate establishment are fully effected; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonOn 4 January 1982 there were 120 outdoor wages inspectors in post; the number planned for 1983 is 119; and the number in post on 1 October 1979 was 158. The reduction in the number of staff in the inspectorate, including support staff, since 1979 will result in savings of approximately £800,000 in a full year at 1981 prices.
The cut in the inspectorate was one of a number of measures designed to reduce the size of the Civil Service. It was made possible by reverting to the 10-year inspection cycle which operated for many years prior to 1978 when the previous Administration increased the number of staff to enable a six-year cycle to be carried out.
The inspectorate checked pay rates at over 37,000 establishments in 1981—a total comparable with those achieved in 1976 and 1977.