HC Deb 11 November 1992 vol 213 cc827-9W
Mrs. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many establishments in the Sheffield area have been(a) investigated and (b) prosecuted under the wages council legislation since 1979.

Mr. McLoughlin

Statistics for the number of establishments that have been investigated in the Sheffield area since 1979 are not available. There have been two prosecutions under wages council legislation since 1979 in the Sheffield area; one in 1990 and one in 1991.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which employers have complained that wages council settlements have a significantly detrimental effect on industry or service sectors.

Mr. McLoughlin

We have received a number of representations complaining about the detrimental effect wages council settlements have on their business. These include letters from the British Hospitality Association, Butlin's Holidays, the National Association of Master Bakers, Gateway Food Markets Ltd., Grand Metropolitan plc, Trust House Forte plc, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Ltd., the Unquoted Companies Group and the Rank Organisation.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations she has received on wages councils from Conservative and from other not-for-profit clubs.

Mr. McLoughlin

We have received two representations from Conservative clubs in the last year, both about the adverse effects of wages council settlements.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which employers and organised groups of employees have determined pay levels at or below wages council rates.

Mr. McLoughlin

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list for each main wages council industry the lowest detected rate of pay in the past three years.

Mr. McLoughlin

The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people employed in(a) Pendle and (b) Lancashire are in occupations covered by the wages councils.

Mr. McLoughlin

I regret that information on the number of workers covered by wages councils is not available for geographical areas smaller than a wages inspectorate division.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Government last consulted on wages councils.

Mr. McLoughlin

From December 1988 to February 1989.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many job vacancies currently notified to the jobcentres in Nelson and Colne are in occupations covered by the wages councils.

Mr. McLoughlin

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated November 1992:

As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about the number of current vacancies notified to Jobcentres in Nelson and Colne which are in occupations covered by the Wages Councils. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.On the 6 November, there were 14 local vacancies available in Nelson Jobcentre and 15 available in Colne Jobcentres covered by the Wages Council.I hope this is helpful.As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what evidence she has of the extent of opposition to wages councils.

Mr. McLoughlin

We continue to receive complaints from employers about the adverse effect which wages council settlements have on industry.