§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Paymaster General what policy he is adopting in response to the sex discrimination tribunal ruling against the eligibility requirements for entrants to community programme schemes.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkAn appeal against the industrial tribunal decision in this case has been lodged with the employment appeal tribunal.
The Government will continue to direct provision at those most in need of the opportunities that the community programme provides.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Paymaster General what policy he is adopting in response to the European Economic Community sex discrimination ruling against United Kingdom retirement ages for women and men.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe European Court of Justice has not yet ruled out the question of different retirement ages for men and women. The Advocate General's opinion delivered on 18 September in the case of Marshall v S W Hampshire Area Health Authority is not the final judgment of the court. We will study the implications of the judgment when we receive it.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Paymaster General how many workers have ceased to fall within the scope of the wages councils and the Wages Inspectorate as a result of the exclusion of those between the ages of 16 and 21 years, how many of these are women, and what proportion women represent of the total number.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNone. It is estimated that half a million people under 21 now subject to wages council regulation will cease to be so under the Government's proposed reforms. Approximately 350,000 of these are female, representing about two-thirds of the total workforce under 21 within scope of wages councils.