§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on the acceptance by job centres of advertisements for jobs paying less than the national minimum wage. [93124]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithResponsibility 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 Leigh Lewis to Mr. Allan Rogers, dated 27 July 1999:
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the acceptance by Jobcentres of advertisements for jobs paying less than the national minimum wage. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.In answer to your specific question, I am aware of one representation - to which I have replied - regarding whether Jobcentres would accept advertisements for jobs paying less than the national minimum wage.It may be helpful if I explain our arrangements for dealing with this matter. All Jobcentres have detailed instructions explaining that they must only take job vacancies that meet the requirements of the National Minimum Wage Act. When taking details of a job vacancy, if no wage rate is stated, the Jobcentre will ask the employer for an assurance that they are meeting the requirements of the Act. If172W
£ LEA name 1998–99 allocation 1999–2000 allocation Total allocation Barking and Dagenham 622,000 484,638 1,106,638 Barnet 483,989 562,500 1,046,489 Barnsley 660,000 429,757 1,089,757 Bath and NE Somerset 350,000 227,901 577,901 Bedfordshire 920,000 830,250 1,750,250 Bexley 406,430 488,360 894,790 Birmingham 4,000,000 4,000,000 8,000,000 Blackburn 293,573 449,871 743,444 Blackpool 233,891 376,443 610,334 Bolton 750,000 607,500 1,357,500 Bournemouth 183,098 187,500 370,598 Bracknell Forest 196,886 260,459 457,345 Bradford 1,002,000 1,600,000 2,602,000 Brent 305,886 358,131 664,017 Brighton and Hove 769,000 502,500 1,271,500 Bromley 196,000 536,027 732,027 Buckinghamshire 1,250,000 1,125,000 2,375,000 Bury 393,713 359,433 753,146 Calderdale 179,278 509,857 689,135
employers remain unsure of their responsibilities under the Act the Jobcentre will advise them to contact the National Minimum Wage Advice Line for more detailed help.I hope this is helpful.