asked the Secretary of State for Employment from what bodies he has invited responses to the consultative paper which he issued recently before taking his intended decision in June to deratify International Labour Convention 26.

My right hon. Friend has invited a number of bodies representing employers' and employees' interests, as well as other interested organisations and individuals, to comment on the options for the future of wages councils set out in the consultative paper. My right hon. Friend is consulting the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress on the Government's proposal to deratify International Labour Convention 26.