§ Mrs. WiseTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has made any survey of working hours and conditions in the retail trades with reference to(a) the extent of reduction of working hours to levels which put them outside statutory employment rights, and (b) the extent of unpaid working time imposed on check-out operators and sales staff by any requirements to work beyond closing hours but counting their paid hours only up to closing time.
§ Mr. Nicholls[holding answer 17 February 1989]: My right hon. Friend has not made any such survey, but information on working hours is available from the labour force survey. In general, pay is a matter for employers and employees, provided that in wages council trades the total amount paid to workers for all time worked is not less than the minimum due.