§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what were the average hours worked by manual workers in the baking industry at the latest date for which this information is available; and if he will give comparable figures for the same date in each of the two preceding years;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report as much information as is readily available about hours of work in the baking industry and about the maximum number of hours worked per week by any group of manual workers in the baking industry.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation on the hours of work of adult manual male employees in the baking industry is published regularly in the reports on the annual new earnings survey, which for the years up to 1981 are available in the Library. The report on the 1982 survey will be published later this year. Table 2 in part 1 of the reports gives average hours—distinguishing overtime within total hours—for those covered by the national joint committee of the baking industry, and table 48 in part 2 shows the percentage of employees with total hours in various ranges.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the current provision for employee participation in health and safety arrangements at work places in the baking industry; and if he has received any representations for improvements in this field.
§ Mr. WaddingtonEmployee participation in health and safety arrangements at the workplace is provided for in the baking industry, as elsewhere, by the Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations 1977. It is the responsibility of employers and trade unions in the industry to set up suitable arrangements within the framework of the regulations. I understand that safety166W representatives and committees have been appointed in a substantial number of plants in the baking industry, and I have received no representations about the present situation.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of tha hazards expressed in the "Safety Representatives' Handbook" published by the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union, a copy of which has been sent to him, he is satisfied with the standards of health and safety in the baking industry.
§ Mr. WaddingtonWhile some of the hazards outlined in the safety handbook published by the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union are present in many of the workplaces in the baking industry, the control of these hazards is generally satisfactory. The publication of the handbook should alert the workpeople in the industry to the contribution they can make to the maintenance of these standards.