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Home Insulation
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for each year since 1978 the number of dwellings insulated under public sector insulation programmes.
Mr. Howard : My Department is responsible for the energy conservation programme and homes insulation scheme. Information on activity in 1986, 1987, 1988 and the first quarter of 1989 for energy conversion, and the first half of 1989 for the homes insulation scheme, appears in table 2.21 of "Housing and Construction Statistics Part 2", No. 38. Figures for earlier years appear in table 7.7 of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1978-1988". Copies of these publications are available in the Library.
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Work under the energy conservation programme is identified only where it is the only work being carried out to a local authority dwelling. Insulation is often installed when other general renovation work is carried out, but these cases cannot be separately identified.Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the internal audit report of 1986 on the homes insulation scheme.
Mr. Howard [holding answer 18 December 1989] : No. It would be inappropriate to make generally available such reports, which are however sent to the National Audit Office and used by the Comptroller and Auditor General to inform his examination of the Department's work.
EMPLOYMENT
Social Fund
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much European social fund funding Leeds will lose for training programmes for long-term unemployed adults and unemployed young people in the coming year.
Mr. Eggar : Allocations to particular programmes have yet to be made. To date, support under the European social fund is made for one year at a time. Funding in one year carried no guarantee of support for future years.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the parameters now used to determine the allocation of European social fund money.
Mr. Eggar : Under the new European social fund arrangements the Commission determines the amount to be allocated to the member states and decides on the applications submitted earlier this year. The regulations on priorities for the schemes were agreed by all member states within the Community. In addition, the Commission has issued guidelines on those elements of the fund to support measures for the long-term unemployed and young people, which they have said they will apply in assessing applications for support. These regulations and guidelines have been widely circulated to all interested parties. This week the Commission published its Community support framework for four of the five objectives of the fund. They set out the priorities that the Commission and member states will adopt in assessing applications for support in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy that any overflow of European social fund training grants should be reallocated to local authorities that already have well- established European social fund programmes.
Mr. Eggar : We expect that all allocations by the European Commission of ESF will be fully taken up by the applicants concerned.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list of all the major schemes in order of amount supported by the European social fund.
Mr. Eggar : A copy of the latest European social fund decision on the funding of all United Kingdom applicants has been lodged in the House of Commons Library.
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Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table of the European social fund training grants allocation to Leeds from 1979 to 1989, inclusive.
Mr. Eggar : Details of allocations to individual towns and cities can be identified only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish his Department's reply to correspondence from Leeds city council about reduced European social fund allocations to training projects.
Mr. Eggar : It is not my Department's policy to publish correspondence with other organisations and individuals.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the new criteria for the European social fund bid allocations to local authorities.
Mr. Eggar : My Department used the European Commission's own criteria of assistance to the long-term unemployed and to youth to produce percentage figures by region and, within that, by county based on long-term and youth unemployment, to facilitate the compilation of the bids for European social fund support. My Department then advised interested organisations of an overall amount they could bid for taking into account the likely demand from all quarters and the European Commission's requirement that bids should be realistic.
Peterlee and Seaham
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement concerning the future of jobcentres and unemployment benefit offices in Peterlee and Seaham.
Mr. Eggar : The employment service is working progressively to bring jobcentres and benefit offices together under one roof. This will provide a new and improve one-stop service.
I will ensure that the hon. Member is informed as soon as decisions about the future of offices in Peterlee and Seaham have been taken.
Jobcentres
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement regarding the future of jobcentres in the (a) Burnley, (b) Pendle, (c) Hyndburn and (d) Rossendale and Darwen constituencies.
Mr. Eggar : The employment service is working progressively to bring jobcentres and benefit offices together under one roof. This will provide a new and improved one-stop service.
I will ensure that hon. Members with a constituency interest are informed as soon as decisions about the future of offices in the Burnley, Pendle, Hyndham and Rossendale and Darwen constituencies have been taken.
Training Schemes
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all training schemes and measures to reduce unemployment, including the enterprise scheme ; and if he will give details of (a) the number of people participating at any one time and (b) the separate and overall expenditure in each case.
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Mr. Eggar : The information is as follows :
1 Training Agency Employment Training (ET) |1,251.5 |209,000 Business Growth Training (BGT) |42.4 |see <1> below Youth Training Scheme (YTS) |1,039.1 |405,000 Community Industry (CI) |28.1 |6,000<2> Work Related Further Education (WRFE) |101.5 |see <3> below TVEI<4> & Compacts |121.2 |see <5> below Enterprise Allowance Scheme (EAS) |138.5<6> |77,230 <1> The following figures are available for BGT for the period April-October 1989: Option 1, kits issued 3,700 Option 2, training places 25,700 Option 3, contracts signed 700 Option 4, contracts signed 1,200 Option 5, contracts signed 25 <2> Employees in Scheme until 1 May 1989, when the contract changed from "Employment Measure" to "Training Provision". <3> In the field of WRFE the TA operates by negotiating with Local Education Authorities. It is not possible to give participation figures comparable with the rest of table. <4> Technical & Vocational Education Initiative. <5> In the academic year 1988-89 314,000 students were involved with TVEI. This figure rose to 630,000 in the academic year 1989-90. <6> Provision in TA Vote from July 1989 only.
There are also other TA initiatives for which the numbers in training are not readily available :
2 Employment Service Programme |Cost (£ million)<1>|Participants -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jobshare |0.66 |<1>187 Restart Courses |7.85 |<2>3,662 Jobstart |5.90 |<3>3,793 Jobclub |28.50 |<4>23,419 <1> As at 30 November 1989. <2> Number of people beginning a Restart Course in November 1989. <3> As at 27 October 1989. <4> As at 24 November 1989. In addition, the ES, through its network of offices, helps and encourages unemployed people to take up available jobs and opportunities. In 1988-89 the ES placed approximately 1.5 million unemployed people into jobs. Note: Expenditure reflects 1989-90 funds allocated.
2 Employment Service Programme |Cost (£ million)<1>|Participants -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jobshare |0.66 |<1>187 Restart Courses |7.85 |<2>3,662 Jobstart |5.90 |<3>3,793 Jobclub |28.50 |<4>23,419 <1> As at 30 November 1989. <2> Number of people beginning a Restart Course in November 1989. <3> As at 27 October 1989. <4> As at 24 November 1989. In addition, the ES, through its network of offices, helps and encourages unemployed people to take up available jobs and opportunities. In 1988-89 the ES placed approximately 1.5 million unemployed people into jobs. Note: Expenditure reflects 1989-90 funds allocated.
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Noise at Work Regulations
Mr. Flannery : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to issue a Health and Safety Commission approved code of practice to accompany the 1989 Noise at Work Regulations ; and when is the likely date of publication.
Mr. Nicholls : The Health and Safety Commission has no plans at present to issue an approved code of practice (ACoP) to accompany these regulations. In its consultation document on proposals to implement directive 86/188/EEC the Commission sought views on whether an ACoP should be produced : the majority of respondents thought that guidance alone would be preferable in this case because it facilitated provision of advice on technical issues in a single series of documents which could readily be amended in the light of technical progress.
The Health and Safety Executive has prepared general guidance for employers, machine makers and suppliers which was published on 16 November. Further guidance will be produced shortly.
Careers Services
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the inspection reports on local authority careers services ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : The reports on local authority careers services produced by the careers service inspectorate will in future be published. Publication will start with those inspections that began after October 1 1989.
Strikes
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many days work were lost by unofficial strike action in each industry as categorised by his Department in each of the last five years for which official figures are available ;
(2) how many official strikes were settled within (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four weeks and (e) longer than four weeks, of the official action occurring in the last five years for which official figures are available ;
(3) how many unofficial strikes were settled within (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, and (e) five working days of the unofficial action occurring in the last five years for which official figures are available ;
(4) how many unofficial strikes were settled within (a) two weeks, (b) three weeks and (c) four weeks, or took longer than four weeks, of the unofficial action occurring in the last five years for which official figures are available ;
(5) what was the total number of days lost by strike action, official and unofficial, and by each industry as categorised by his Department in each of the last five years for which official figures are available ;
(6) what was the total number of unofficial strikes in each industry categorised by his Department, in each of the last five years for which official figures are available.
Mr. Nicholls : The information is not available except at disproportionate cost.
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in how many (a) official strikes and (b) unofficial strikes the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has been involved in each of the last five years for which official figures are available.
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Mr. Nicholls : Information is not available in the form requested. Information on the overall number of disputes in which ACAS has been involved is published in the service's annual reports, copies of which are held in the Library.
Wages Councils
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many establishments were checked by a visit by wages council inspectors in 1988.
Mr. Nicholls : In 1988 a total of 19,573 establishments in Great Britain were checked by visits by wages inspectors.
Closed Shop
Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any further representations about the closed shop ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : In addition to comments on the proposals contained in chapter 2 of the Green Paper "Removing Barriers to Employment", my Department continues to receive letters which describe difficulties experienced as a result of the operation of closed shop arrangements. The Government's new Employment Bill will make it unlawful to refuse anyone employment because they are not a union member which, together with the protections provided in the 1988 Employment Act, will make all forms of the closed shop unenforceable.
Self-Employment
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the various categorisations of self-employment.
Mr. Eggar : The borderline between employment and self-employment is not defined in statute, but is a matter determined by the common law. The question whether individuals are employed or self-employed will depend on the terms and conditions under which they are engaged and work. The courts will decide where the status of an individual is in doubt. The Inland Revenue and Department of Social Security have to establish whether an individual is employed or self-employed for purposes of income tax and National Insurance contributions.
Unemployment Benefit (Quarterly Attenders)
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the total number of quarterly attenders reporting to unemployment benefit offices in Great Britain and in each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales ;
(2) whether quarterly attenders aged over 50 years are included in the published monthly unemployment figures.
Mr. Eggar : The following table shows the number of quarterly attenders for November 1989 in Great Britain and in each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales.
Quarterly Attenders in November 1989
|Number
-----------------------------------------
Great Britain |149,572
South East |25,985
East Anglia |2,756
South West |8,032
West Midlands |18,627
East Midlands |10,257
Yorkshire and Humberside |18,397
North West |22,257
North |13,770
Scotland |21,674
Wales |7,547
The provision of signing quarterly is mainly for those aged 50 and over, who have been unemployed for one year and have no entitlement to unemployment benefit.
Arts and Design
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what expenditure was made by his Department on (a) the arts and (b) design in the last financial year.
Mr. Nicholls : This information is not available in the form requested.
Business Enterprise Allowance
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement as to the eligibility of businesses in receipt of business enterprise allowance funding to (a) engage as sub-contractors and (b) engage sub-contractors.
Mr. Eggar : The aim of the enterprise allowance scheme is to help unemployed people create new small businesses that would otherwise not exist. Most labour-only sub-contracting arrangements are ruled outside the scope and the spirit of the scheme. However scheme support may be approved where applicants can show they will provide specialist expertise or services to a number of other companies not normally retaining these "in- house". Existing EAS participants are free to engage sub-contractors or employ other staff.
Military Conscription
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has identified reserved occupations for exemption from military conscription during a war emergency ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : My Department has not identified reserved occupations for exemption from military conscription during a war emergency.
Host Nation Support
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has identified specific categories of skilled workers as part of planning for host nation support within NATO.
Mr. Eggar : My Department has not identified specific categories of skilled workers as part of planning for host nation support within NATO.
Tourism
Mr. Bevan : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the Prime Minister's answer to the hon. Member for York (Mr. Gregory) on 12
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December, Official Report, column 854, regarding the Minister for tourism for Great Britain, if he will ensure that he answers all questions on tourism relevant to Great Britain as a whole.Mr. Nicholls : The Secretary of State for Employment has responsibility for tourism matters in Great Britain as a whole ; as such he will continue to answer questions relevant to the whole of Great Britain.
Sewage Sludge Tanks
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the required safety standards set by the Health and Safety Executive for fencing around sewage sludge tanks.
Mr. Nicholls : Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 require an employer to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of his employees and the health and safety of persons not in his employment who may be affected by his work activity. These duties extend to the risks at sewage and sludge tanks.
The Health and Safety Executive has not published standards for the fencing of sewage and sludge tanks in the water industry but would expect employers, in complying with their duties under the Act, to provide adequate fencing around the tanks.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to (a) the number and (b) the percentage of workers who leave their job within two years of starting.
Mr. Nicholls : This information is not available.
Sick Pay
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of people who are not paid by their employer if they are off sick for between one and three days.
Mr. Nicholls : The information requested is not available.
Employment Training
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is meant by low incomes in relation to people who have joined employment training schemes, for (a) lone parents and (b) couples ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : My Department does not use any definition of low income in relation to people in employment training. Eligibility for employment training does not depend on the level of income and the training allowance paid to trainees is based on their existing entitlement to benefits.
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provision is made for people taking employment training who have child care problems, particularly where no creche facilities exist ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Nicholls : There are a number of ways in which people on employment training (ET) can be helped with childcare. Training providers are encouraged to set up creche facilities at or near the place of training and lone parents can get help towards the cost of this or other appropriate provision. In addition the inbuilt flexibilities of ET mean that training can often be arranged to take account of individual domestic circumstances.Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provision is made to help people taking Government employment training in computer courses to undertake training at home ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : Where appropriate trainees may, with the agreement of the training manager, undertake training in computer skills at home. Where computer equipment is needed for people with disabilities, there is help available through the special aids to employment scheme.
Within employment training there is also provision for higher level information technology skills courses specifically for women returners. In some cases where training is home based, office equipment and computers can be made available on loan.
European Social Fund
Mr. Quentin Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on allocations to the United Kingdom by the European social fund for measures for the long-term unemployed and young people in Great Britain for the period 1990 to 1992.
Sir Fergus Montgomery : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about allocations to the United Kingdom by the European social fund for measures for the long-term unemployed and young people in Great Britain for the period 1990 to 1992.
Mr. Eggar : Having obtained the agreement of the British Government, on 20 December 1989 the Commission of the European Communities made its decision on European social fund allocations to the United Kingdom for training and employment of long-term unemployed people and of young people under objectives 3 and 4 of the Community's structural funds. The decision is contained in the Community support framework, a copy of which will be placed in the Library. The priorities of the Community support framework will guide the allocation of 1,025 million ecu (approximately £782 million) made available by the Commission under these objectives of the fund for the three years 1990 to 1992. This is the highest allocation to any member state and represents 24.8 per cent. of the budget which the Commission has distributed.
The Commission has yet to take decisions on allocations to particular programmes.
Action for Jobs Campaign
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what was the total expenditure attributed to the Action for Jobs campaign in 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88.
Mr. Eggar : The total expenditure attributed to the Action for Jobs campaign in 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88 is as follows :
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1985-86 £40,0001986-87 £13.9 million
1987-88 £8 million
Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether it is his intention to place the responsibility for education capacity in the hands of the local training and enterprise council ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 18 December 1989] : Compacts will come under the training and enterprise councils (TECs) as they come into being, provided always that the educational partners in each compact agree to this. It is of the utmost importance that TECs should take all opportunities to work effectively with all relevant parts of the local education system to raise skill levels and educational achievements in their local community.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Legal Services Committee
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Attorney-General what support he intends to give to the regional north-western legal services committees and proposed similar committees in north-east England and south Wales.
The Attorney-General : The legal aid board funds the north west legal services committee.
It will be considering, in the light of progress on its franchising proposals, future support for regional legal services committees.
Jeremiah Miller
Mr. Alton : To ask the Attorney-General what requests the Crown prosecution service has received for documents concerning Jeremiah Miller, a prisoner at Her Majesty's prison Walton ; what documents he has released ; if he has withheld any information ; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-General : The Crown prosecution service has received requests for the disclosure of documents relating to police activity during the course of the investigation of an offence of attempted robbery which occurred at Upton, Wirral on 24 July 1986. Jeremiah Miller was subsequently convicted of offences arising out of that incident.
Requests have been received both from Jeremiah Miller and from solicitors acting on his behalf ; in addition, a request by Jeremiah Miller has been channelled to the CPS through the chief constable of Merseyside.
I am satisfied that the Crown prosecution service has responded fully and properly to those requests.
Accountancy Firms
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Attorney-General whether there are any current prosecutions of accountants for the creation of a false market in shares.
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