§ Mr. Meacherasked the Minister for Trade if he will review his earlier decision to cease publication of the names of British companies paying wages below the lower poverty level in South Africa, in view of the fact that the numbers of workers involved has doubled since 1980.
§ Mr. Peter ReesNo. The reasons for not naming British companies whose South African subsidies might be paying workers at rates below the lower poverty datum level were fully explained by my right hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Nott) on 27 June 1980. —[Vol. 987, c. 1030–31.] There have been no developments since then which would justify reconsideration of the Government's policy.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Minister for Trade what are the figures for the percentages of the workers employed by British companies in South Africa who are paid below the lower datum level given in table 4 of the analysis and summary of companies' reports submitted under Cmnd. 7233 as 2.5 per cent. for 1978 and 1 per cent. for 1982, to the nearest 0.01 per cent.
§ Mr. Peter ReesI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.