§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action the Government are taking to meet their obligations under convention No. 26 in the light of the International Labour Organisation's call for appropriate measures to ensure fuller observance of the minimum wages set by wages councils.
§ Mr. GummerThere was no suggestion in the observations recently made by the International Labour Organisation committee of experts that the United Kingdom is failing to meet obligations under the Convention No. 26 concerning the creation of minimum wage-fixing machinery. In fact, the organisation noted that in Great Britain in 1981only 6.2 per cent. of the workers in wages council trades whose pay was checked by inspectors were found to have been underpaid. It hoped that the Government would be able to ensure fuller observance of the minimum rates set.
Since 1981the Wages Inspectorate in Great Britain has increased the number of checks being carried out, but total compliance with wages orders could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.