§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspectors were in charge of low pay cases for each year since 1974.
§ Mr. Nicholls[holding answer 18 October 1989]: The Department inspects pay levels only where statutory minimum rates set by wages councils are in force. The average number of inspectors in post for this purpose in each of the years in question was:
Year Number 1974 135 1975 128 1976 125 1977 132 1978 143 1979 158 1980 155 1981 117 1982 116 1983 116 1984 115 1985 120 1986 116 1987 73 1988 70 The reduction in the number of inspectors in 1987 reflected the simpler and quicker task of checking compliance with wage orders and the rise in the general level of compliance following the reform of the wages council system in 1986.