asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the purpose of the circulation of the form W150 by the Wages Inspectorate; in what way this additional work is of assistance to small business men who may be required to complete the form; and whether he intends to make any changes therein.

The form W150 is sent to employers in the retail distributive trades who have not previously been known to the Wages Inspectorate to inquire whether they employ workers within scope of whichever wages council applies. In appropriate cases the employer's name is added to the list for the receipt of wages notices issued by the wages council concerned. If such inquiries were to cease many employers would not be aware of their obligations and would be in breach of the law. I have no plans to change the system.