§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Eltham of 13 November,Official Report, column 984, on rates of low payment found by wages inspectors, if she will list the levels of low payment for which prosecutions have taken place, or are in progress, for 1991–92.
§ Mr. McLoughlinIn 1991 there were 14 prosecutions for failing to pay at least the statutory minimum rate. The hourly rates of payment discovered in these cases are as follows: £1.25; £1.50; £1.50; £1.63; £1.85; £1.875; £2.01; £2.18; £2.33; £2.33; £2.48; £2.48; £2.48; £2.50.
In 1992 there have been 10 prosecutions to date for failing to pay at least the statutory minimum rate. The hourly rates of payment discovered in these cases are as follows: £1.70; £1.87; £2.00; £2.00; £2.00; £2.30; £2.60; £2.64; £2.68; £2.70.
There are three cases currently in progress, that have yet to come to court. The hourly rates of payment in these cases are as follows: 400W £1.60; £1.70; £2.03.
§ 1990. Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many wages inspectors there were in(a) 1979 and (b)
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe average number of wages inspectors in post was as follows:
- 1979–158 inspectors
- 1990–66 inspectors
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of firms covered by the wages councils received a visit from the wages inspectors in 1990–91.
§ Mr. McLoughlinIn 1990–91, 4.4 per cent. of establishments covered by wages councils were visited by wages inspectors.