§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the occasions and dates since 8 July 1981 when he or any of his departmental Ministers have met official representatives of the Trades Union Congress at a formal meeting to discuss policy issues, excluding meetings with departmental unions about Whitley conditions; and whether there has been any occasion when he has refused to meet a Trades Union Congress deputation after the congress has officially requested one.
§ Mr. TebbitSince taking office on 15 September 1981, I or my junior Ministers have met every Trades Union Congress deputation that has been officially requested. These formal meetings with official TUC representatives have taken place in my Department on the following dates:
1981
- 26 November: My hon. Friend the Member for Barkston Ash (Mr. Alison).
- 16 December: Myself together with my hon. Friend the Member for Barkston Ash (Mr. Alison) and my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Clitheroe (Mr. Waddington).
Provisional estimates of employees in employment—United Kingdom (Thousands) Minimum List Heading (MLH) of the 1968 Standard Industrial Classification June 1981 December 1981 Male Female Total, males and females Male Female Total, males and females All Part-time All Part-time MLH 884 Hotels and other residential establishments 97.1 162.5 82.6 259.6 79.5 132.7 69.9 212.2 MLH 885 Restaurants, cafes, snack bars 61.0 115.9 81.7 177.0 57.0 111.1 76.0 168.2 MLH 886 Public houses 77.8 172.4 141.8 150.3 77.0 176.0 143.6 253.1 MLH 887 Clubs 40.5 76.8 59.6 117.3 40.4 75.9 61.7 116.3 MLH 888 Catering contractors 19.4 47.4 18.6 66.7 18.0 45.9 20.3 63.8 Total 295.8 575.0 384.3 870.9 271.9 541.6 371.5 813.6