§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in the homeworking sector in Greater London; and what provisions are made to ensure that their pay and conditions do not fall below the statutory minimum provisions.
§ Mr. GummerIt is estimated that in 1981 there were 112,000 people in the homeworking sector in Greater London. This figure includes those working from home —using their home as a base—those working on their own account, those working in the family business and those working for an outside firm.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires the supplier of homework, as far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure the health and safety of homeworkers with regard to the work, material and equipment with which he supplies them. The Act is enforced by local authorities and Health and Safety Executive inspectors.
Pay and other terms and conditions of employment are, in general, matters to be agreed between employer and workers — or their representatives — without statutory intervention. However, the Wages Inspectorate carries out checks on the pay of homeworkers in the wages council trades as part of its inspection programme.