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Gangmasters

Volume 700: debated on Monday 21 April 2008

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Rules 2008 (SI 2008/638), what is the estimate for 2008–09 of the numbers of annual fees that will be charged in each fee band; what was the actual figure for 2006–07; and what is the latest prediction for 2007–08. [HL2824]

The information requested is set out in the table below.

Number of licences issued by turnover band 2006-07 – 2008-09

Fee Band

Turnover

2006-07

2007-08*

2008-09*

A

£10 million or more

12

12

11

B

£5 million to < £10 million

18

16

17

C

£1 million to < £5 million

191

173

239

D

< £1 million

837

1000

1108

Total

1058

1201

1375

* Numbers for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are estimates as at 28 February 2008

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Rules 2008 (SI 2008/638), why renewal fees increased by 11.1 per cent for bands A and B and 7.9 per cent for Band C. [HL2825]

Under Treasury funding rules, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is required to cover the cost of its operation from the licence and application fees it receives.

The GLA fee levels for the 2008-09 financial year were set following public consultation. On the basis of the outcome of this consultation, the GLA decided that licence fees for band D licence holders should not be increased. Band D licence holders are the smallest businesses licensed by the GLA, with turnovers of less than £1 million in the sectors regulated by the authority. Keeping band D licence fee levels unchanged represents a saving in real terms for more than 72 per cent of licence holders. To meet its cost recovery target, the GLA has had to increases fee levels for licence holders in bands A to C.