HC Deb 14 July 1992 vol 211 cc625-6W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will publish a range of estimates of the economic effects of wages councils on levels of payment, employment, unemployment and economic activity.

Mr. McLoughlin

A number of studies which estimate the economic effects of wages councils have been published. They are based on differing research methods and have been conducted at different times, so their results may not be directly comparable. For this reason it is not sensible to present a range of estimates.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether she proposes to issue a consultation paper on the roles, functions and operations of wages councils.

Mr. McLoughlin

No.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she has commissioned a survey of opinion on wages councils among(a) employers and (b) employees in wage council industries.

Mr. McLoughlin

There are no plans to carry out a further consultation exercise. Full public consultation took place in 1988.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost to her Department of(a) wages councils and (b) enforcement of minimum pay rates.

Mr. McLoughlin

For the financial year ended 31 March 1992 the cost of administering the wages councils was £197,000 and the cost of enforcement of minimum pay rates was £2,080,000.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who has been consulted on the future of wages councils.

Mr. McLoughlin

Full public consultation took place in 1988.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Government last announced a reassessment of their policy on wages councils; and when it became her policy to abolish all wages councils.

Mr. McLoughlin

My right hon. and learned Friend, the previous Secretary of State, announced on 6 March 1990 that, following the last consultation exercise, the wages councils' system has no permanent place in the labour market and their operation would be kept under close review. This remains the Government's policy.