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EMPLOYMENT
Tourism
13. Mr. Gregory : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his revised estimate for the numbers and value of overseas visitors to the United Kingdom for 1989 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : A total of 14.9 million overseas visitors are estimated to have come to the United Kingdom in the first 10 months of 1989, spending about £5.8 billion.
Both the number of visitors and their total expenditure were 9 per cent. more than in the same period last year. The estimate for the whole of 1989 will be published on 7 March.
Mr. Franks : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has taken to assist the tourist industry since the ending of section 4 grants.
Mr. Nicholls : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Batiste) on 28 November 1989, Official Report, column 212, regarding my Department's review of tourism policy.
Employment Training
15. Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of employment training places in the north-west are unfilled.
Mr. Nicholls : At 15 December 1989 about 21 per cent. of employment training places in the Training Agency's north-west region were unfilled.
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31. Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received about employment training.Mr. Nicholls : My Department receives a wide range of representations, from both individuals and organisations about employment training, all of which receive careful consideration.
50. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish his Department's survey into the overall performance of the employment training scheme.
Mr. Nicholls : The first results from the 100 per cent. follow-up survey of employment training leavers have already been made public. These show that 58 per cent. of trainees completing their agreed training went into jobs or self-employment or further full-time education or training.
70. Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's 100 per cent. follow-up survey of employment training.
Mr. Nicholls : The latest results from the 100 per cent. follow-up survey of employment training leavers show that 58 per cent. of trainees completing their agreed training went into jobs or self-employment or further full-time training or education. This is clear evidence that the programme is playing a major role in helping unemployed people to get back into work.
Footwear and Textiles
16. Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on job losses in the footwear and textile industries.
Mr. Eggar : As the hon. Member knows, owing to competitive pressures there have been some job losses in the footwear and textile industries. I refer him to the reply given by my hon. Friend on 8 January, Official Report, column 491.
Minimum Wages
17. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to increase the number of prosecutions for breaches of minimum wage legislation.
Mr. Nicholls : The policy of the wages inspectorate under all Governments has been to seek compliance with wages council regulations by advice and persuasion and to prosecute ones where an offence is deliberate or repeated and the evidence is considered adequate. There are no plans to change this policy.
43. Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to increase minimum wage levels.
Mr. Nicholls : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett), for Pontefract and Castleford (Mr. Lofthouse) and for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Eastham) on 5 December 1989, Official Report, columns 202-3 .
Column 220
EC Ministers
18. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met his European Community counterparts ; and what was discussed.
Mr. Howard : My predecessor last met his European Community counterparts on 30 November 1989, at the meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council. The outcome of that meeting was reported in the Official Report of 19 December 1989, columns 144-45.
Disabled People
19. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to raise the number of disabled persons in the work force.
Mr. Eggar : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett).
41. Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the appropriateness of anti- discrimination legislation to protect disabled persons within the labour market.
Mr. Eggar : The Government's preferred option for improving opportunities for people with disabilities in the labour market is to educate, persuade and assist employers to adopt constructive policies and practices. The appropriateness of anti-discrimination legislation is being examined in the Employment Department's current review of its services for people with disabilities. The conclusions of the review will be published in a consultative document soon.
Industrial Disputes
20. Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate how many working days have been lost in disputes for a shorter working week in the last 12 months.
Mr. Nicholls : In the 12-month period ending October 1989, 15,000 working days were lost through disputes about basic working hours.
Training and Enterprise Councils
21. Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department intends to avoid preferential funding by TEC members in organisations in which they may have an interest.
Mr. Howard : Every TEC's memorandum and articles will contain a clause requiring a director to refrain from voting on any matter in which he has an interest. TECs' plans will be scrutinised to ensure they reflect market needs and they will contract on a competitive basis for training and enterprise services. Furthermore, a TEC will publish an annual report of its performance against its plan.
22. Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made with the establishment of training and enterprise councils.
Mr. Howard : I have been very encouraged by the excellent response from employers throughout the country since we issued the invitation to form training and
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enterprise councils. Applications for development funding from over 50 groups of senior employers from around the country have been approved. A table listing the areas from which we have had applications and indicating their current status has been placed in the Library.61. Mr. David Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further applications have been received to set up training and enterprise councils ; and if he will make a statement.
63. Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on recent progress with the training and enterprise council programme.
78. Mr. Latham : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of training and enterprise councils.
Mr. Eggar : I have been very encouraged by the excellent response from employers throughout the country since we issued the invitation to form training and enterprise councils. Applications for development funding from over 50 groups of senior employers from around the country have been approved. The table lists the areas from which we have had applications and indicates their status.
List of training and enterprise councils that have applied for development
funding
|Applications
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
South East
Milton Keynes |Approved
Hertfordshire |Approved
Essex |Approved
Hampshire |Approved
Isle of Wight |Approved
Thames Valley |Approved
Oxfordshire |Approved
Kent |Approved
Surrey |Under Consideration
London
Kingston/Merton |Approved
London East |Under Consideration
South London |Under Consideration
South West
Devon/Cornwall |Approved
Dorset |Approved
Somerset |Approved
Avon |Approved
Gloucestershire |Under Consideration
West Midlands
Birmingham |Approved
Walsall |Approved
Staffordshire |Approved
Coventry/Warwickshire |Approved
Dudley |Approved
Wolverhampton |Approved
Sandwell |Under Consideration
East Midlands and Eastern
North Nottinghamshire |Approved
Norfolk/Waveney |Approved
Suffolk |Approved
Greater Peterborough |Approved
Bedfordshire |Under Consideration
Central and South Cambridgeshire |Approved
Lincolnshire |Under Consideration
Northamptonshire |Under Consideration
Yorkshire and Humberside
Sheffield |Approved
Calderdale/Kirklees |Approved
North Yorkshire |Approved
Rotherham |Approved
Leeds |Approved
Barnsley/Doncaster |Approved
Wakefield |Under Consideration
North West
Cumbria |Approved
East Lancashire |Approved
Rochdale |Approved
Oldham |Approved
South and East Cheshire |Approved
Wigan |Approved
Manchester |Approved
Stockport/High Peak |Approved
Bolton/Bury |Approved
St. Helens |Approved
Northern
Teesside |Approved
Tyneside |Approved
Wearside |Approved
County Durham |Approved
Northumberland |Approved
Wales
Mid Glamorgan |Approved
North East Wales |Approved
West Wales |Approved
North West Wales |Approved
South Glamorgan |Approved
Gwent |Approved
44. Mr. Lofthouse : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department will assess the competence of training and enterprise council board members.
Mr. Eggar : The competence of training and enterprise councils will be judged by their ability to achieve agreed levels of performance on quality as well as quantity. TECs will also be accountable to their community by holding public meetings and by publishing an annual report. It will be for board members themselves to consider the competence of other members of their board.
Labour Statistics
23. Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about unemployment in Cleveland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : In recent months my Department has received one letter on unemployment in Cleveland. In the year to November 1989, unemployment in Cleveland county fell from 36,150 to 27,964, a reduction of 22.6 per cent. on the November 1988 figure.
24. Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what amount the work force in the United Kingdom has increased in the last quarter for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Howard : The work force in employment in the United Kingdom increased by 78,000 in the last quarter to stand at 26,341,000 in June 1989 --the highest level ever.
25. Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in the numbers of unemployed in the latest month for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Howard : Between October and November 1989, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom fell by 25,200. Unemployment has now fallen for 40 consecutive months on a consistent basis and is now at its lowest for over nine years.45. Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment for the last quarter and what were the figures for the last five years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : The following table shows the change in unemployment in the United Kingdom for the latest available quarter and the change for the corresponding quarter in each of the last five years. Unemployment has now fallen for 40 consecutive months and is at its lowest level for over nine years.
Change in unemployment (seasonally
adjusted)
|Thousands
|<1>quarter 3
|change
---------------------------------------
1984 |+57.3
1985 |+16.6
1986 |-15.9
1987 |-139.1
1988 |-132.4
1989 |-115.4
<1> September compared with previous
June.
46. Mr. Andrew MacKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment.
Mr. Nicholls : In November 1989 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 1,649,700, the lowest for over nine years.
47. Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently unemployed in the Devon, North constituency ; and how many in 1979.
Mr. Nicholls : Figures for current parliamentary constituencies are available only back to June 1983 when there were 3,124 unemployed claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Devon, North. This compares with 1,968 in November 1989, a fall of 1,156 or 37 per cent. The comparison is affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and by the change in benefit regulations affecting under 18-year-olds in September 1988.
48. Mr. Conway : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest quarterly figure for those in work in the United Kingdom, and what were the comparable figures for the last five years.
Mr. Nicholls : In June 1989, the United Kingdom work force in employment, seasonally adjusted, stood at 26,341,000--the highest level ever. The table shows comparable figures for the past five years :
Workforce in employment-United Kingdom
Annual change
|Workforce in |Actual |Percentage
|employment
|Thousands<1>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 1984 |24,226 |- |-
June 1985 |24,527 |300 |1.2
June 1986 |24,553 |26 |0.1
June 1987 |25,065 |512 |2.1
June 1988 |25,864 |799 |3.2
June 1989 |26,341 |477 |1.8
56. Mr. Butterfill : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of unemployed people in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Canada ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : In September 1989, the latest date for which international standardised unemployment rates are available, the percentage of unemployed claimants, seasonally adjusted, was 6 per cent. in the United Kingdom and 7.3 per cent. in Canada. Over the past two years the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom has fallen faster than in any other major industrialised country.
77. Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average unemployment rate in the United Kingdom and in each country of the European Community for each of the last five years.
64. Mr. Madel : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average level of unemployment in the other members of the European Community ; what is the comparable level of unemployment in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : In October 1989, the latest available date, the rate of unemployment in the United Kingdom was 6.2 per cent. compared to an EEC average of 9.1 per cent. Over the past two years the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom has fallen faster than in any other major industrialised country.
66. Mr. Yeo : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in the numbers of long-term unemployed in the latest month for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : The number of claimants in the United Kingdom unemployed for 12 months or more fell by 62,000 between July 1989 and October 1989. Long-term unemployment continues to fall at a faster rate than total unemployment.
67. Mr. Colin Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now in employment in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : The work force in employment in the United Kingdom was 26,341,000 in June 1989 ; that is the latest figure available, and is at its highest level ever.
69. Mr. Hague : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in the rate of unemployment in the United Kingdom over the last two years ; what were the figures in other OECD countries ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : The table shows for the United Kingdom and for each other OECD country, the change in the standardised unemployment rate, over the latest available
Column 225
two-year period. Over the past two years unemployment has fallen faster in the United Kingdom than in any other major industrialised country.
International comparisons of unemployment
rates latest month
compared with two years earlier
(OECD standardised unemployment rates)
Country |<1>Percentage
|points change
-------------------------------------------
United Kingdom |-3.8
Spain |-3.2
Portugal |(May) -2.2
Belgium |-1.9
Australia |-1.7
Finland |(August) -1.5
Canada |-1.1
France |-0.9
Germany |-0.7
United States |-0.6
Japan |-0.6
Sweden |-0.4
Netherlands |(January)-0.2
Italy |(April)0.2
Norway |(May) 3.1
Note: September 1989 unless otherwise
stated.
73. Miss Widdecombe : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which region in the United Kingdom recorded the greatest fall in the rate of unemployment in the last quarter.
75. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on employment levels in the north of England.
Mr. Nicholls : In the three regions, north, north-west, and Yorkshire and Humberside, the civilian work force in employment was 6,126,000 in June 1989, an increase of 403,000 or 7 per cent. in the last five years.
76. Mr. Barry Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures his Department has taken to help further reduce unemployment in Merseyside ; how successful these have been ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : My Department, through its employment service and Training Agency, operates a wide range of employment, enterprise and training measures, which are all available in Merseyside, as well as elsewhere.
In addition, as in other inner city areas, a number of initiatives have been adopted aimed at helping unemployed people in Liverpool to find employment, and at encouraging employers to recruit local unemployed people. Since April the Liverpool city action team has approved 29 employment and training projects which will create almost 800 jobs and training places, and improve the facilities for nearly 1,300 training places.
During the 12 months to November 1989 unemployment in Merseyside county has fallen by 16,166--16.4 per cent. of the November 1988 figure.
79. Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in jobs in the north-west in the most recent five-year period for which figures are available.
Mr. Nicholls : The civilian work force in employment in the north- west has increased by 202,000 (8 per cent.) from 2,570,000 to 2,772,000 over the five years from June 1984 to June 1989.
Column 226
Mr. Lee : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the percentage unemployment reductions in Lancashire travel-to-work areas since June 1987.
Mr. Nicholls : The information is available in the Library. Percentage changes in unemployment between June 1987 and November 1989 for all travel-to-work areas covering the county of Lancashire were :
Travel-to-work areas |Percentage
|change<1>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Pendle |-58.4
Settle |-56.3
Clitheroe |-53.1
Accrington and Rossendale |-50.5
Burnley |-50.4
Blackpool |-45.8
Bolton and Bury |-44.9
Preston |-44.6
Blackburn |-43.0
Wigan and St. Helens |-42.4
Rochdale |-42.1
Lancaster and Morecambe |-39.0
Liverpool |-34.1
<1> unadjusted.
Local Offices
26. Mr. Archer : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on staffing levels in jobcentres and unemployment benefit offices.
Mr. Eggar : During November 1989 the equivalent of approximately 7, 643 full-time staff were working in jobcentres on placing people into jobs. A total of 17,382 full-time staff were working on benefit payments in unemployment benefit offices. A further equivalent of 3, 791 full-time staff were employed on counselling functions.
Wages Councils
27. Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research his Department has commissioned into the removal of wages councils.
58. Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research his Department has commissioned into the rates of pay set by statutory wages councils.
Mr. Nicholls : I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 21 July 1989, Official Report, column 390.
42. Mr. Jack Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning his plans to abolish the wages councils.
Mr. Nicholls : I refer to the hon. Member to the replies given to my hon. Friends the Members for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 21 March, Official Report, columns 555-56 , for Luton South (Mr. Bright) on 28 July, Official Report, column 1037, and to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 23 March, Official Report, columns 798-802.
68. Mr. Eastham : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on research he has commissioned into the effects of removing young people from wages council protection.
Column 227
Mr. Nicholls : There is clear evidence in studies both in the United Kingdom and internationally on the link between pay and jobs, especially for young people. These findings are supported by indications from employers that their freedom since 1986 to offer jobs at rates they can afford has resulted in the engagement of young people who would not otherwise have been recruited. Further research is therefore unnecessary.Wales
30. Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what responsibilities he has for employment policy in Wales.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for formulating policy on employment and training matters throughout Great
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Britain, in consultation with colleagues, including the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland, as appropriate.Inner Cities
28. Mrs. Maureen Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the reduction of unemployment in inner cities.
Mr. Nicholls : The table shows the fall in unemployed claimants in the 57 local authority areas in England within which the Government target inner city programme aid. The sustained fall in unemployment in these areas is very encouraging and reflects the success of our action for cities package. My Department's programmes are continuing to equip unemployed inner city residents in Wolverhampton and elsewhere with the skills, confidence and motivation to compete for jobs.
Column 227
Local authority areas in England within which the Government target inner city programme aid
(not seasonally adjusted)
Unemployed claimants Change Percentage
| change
|November 1988|November 1989
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halton |7,130 |5,248 |-1,882 |-26.4
Knowsley |13,492 |11,651 |-1,841 |-13.7
Liverpool |42,406 |35,812 |-6,594 |-15.6
Sefton |14,892 |11,947 |-2,945 |-19.8
St. Helens |9,708 |7,872 |-1,836 |-18.9
Wigan |14,023 |10,703 |-3,320 |-23.7
Wirral |18,112 |15,162 |-2,950 |-16.3
Blackburn |5,638 |4,782 |-856 |-15.2
Bolton |11,356 |8,902 |-2,454 |-21.6
Burnley |3,280 |2,450 |-830 |-25.3
Manchester |32,107 |26,931 |-5,176 |-16.1
Oldham |8,633 |7,039 |-1,594 |-18.5
Preston |5,561 |4,459 |-1,102 |-19.8
Rochdale |8,964 |6,960 |-2,004 |-22.4
Salford |12,228 |9,711 |-2,517 |-20.6
Gateshead |11,341 |9,155 |-2,186 |-19.3
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |18,302 |14,794 |-3,508 |-19.2
North Tyneside |9,987 |7,379 |-2,608 |-26.1
South Tyneside |10,836 |8,577 |-2,259 |-20.9
Sunderland |19,828 |16,018 |-3,810 |-19.2
Hartlepool |6,278 |4,764 |-1,514 |-24.1
Langbaurgh-on-Tees |8,833 |6,688 |-2,145 |-24.3
Middlesbrough |10,868 |8,659 |-2,209 |-20.3
Stockton-on-Tees |10,171 |7,853 |-2,318 |-22.8
Barnsley |12,649 |8,986 |-3,663 |-29.0
Bradford |18,788 |15,206 |-3,582 |-19.1
Doncaster |16,865 |12,494 |-4,371 |-25.9
Kirklees |12,153 |9,638 |-2,515 |-20.7
Leeds |26,795 |21,580 |-5,215 |-19.5
Rotherham |13,934 |10,550 |-3,384 |-24.3
Sheffield |29,576 |23,068 |-6,508 |-22.0
Kingston-upon-Hull |15,856 |13,584 |-2,272 |-14.3
Birmingham |58,740 |46,515 |-12,225 |-20.8
Coventry |14,861 |12,225 |-2,636 |-17.7
Dudley |11,166 |8,182 |-2,984 |-26.7
Sandwell |15,452 |11,744 |-3,708 |-24.0
The Wrekin |5,181 |3,278 |-1,903 |-36.7
Walsall |11,154 |8,404 |-2,750 |-24.7
Wolverhampton |13,761 |11,634 |-2,127 |-15.5
Derby |9,807 |6,985 |-2,822 |-28.8
Leicester |11,531 |9,629 |-1,902 |-16.5
Nottingham |16,542 |13,382 |-3,160 |-19.1
Bristol |15,886 |12,485 |-3,401 |-21.4
Plymouth |11,298 |8,952 |-2,346 |-20.8
Brent |11,928 |7,808 |-4,120 |-34.5
Greenwich |9,402 |7,951 |-1,451 |-15.4
Hackney |14,644 |12,370 |-2,274 |-15.5
Hammersmith |8,091 |6,273 |-1,818 |-22.5
Haringey |12,270 |10,412 |-1,858 |-15.1
Islington |11,297 |9,324 |-1,973 |-17.5
Kensington and Chelsea |5,526 |3,887 |-1,639 |-29.7
Lambeth |17,209 |13,737 |-3,472 |-20.2
Lewisham |12,453 |10,232 |-2,221 |-17.8
Newham |11,318 |10,248 |-1,070 |-9.5
Southwark |15,295 |11,798 |-3,497 |-22.9
Tower Hamlets |11,203 |9,322 |-1,881 |-16.8
Wandsworth |9,861 |7,630 |-2,231 |-22.6
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |806,466 |643,029 |-163,437 |-20.3
Closed Shop
29. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking in relation to the closed shop ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : The Employment Bill published on 21 December 1989 makes it unlawful to refuse to employ a person because he is, or is not, a trade union member and provides that any person refused employment for such a reason may complain to an industrial tribunal. This measure, together with the protections afforded by the 1988 Employment Act, will make all forms of the closed shop unenforceable in law.
49. Mr. Roger King : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the abolition of the closed shop ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : My Department continues to receive letters that describe difficulties experienced as a result of the operation of closed shop arrangements. The majority of these letters support measures against the closed shop. The Employment Bill published on 21 December 1989 will make it unlawful to refuse anyone employment because he is, or is not, a member of a trade union and this, together with the protections already afforded under the 1988 Employment Act, will make all forms of the closed shop unenforceable in law.
55. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has held any recent meetings with his EEC counterparts to discuss the legal and practical aspects of trades union closed shop procedures in the member states.
Mr. Nicholls : Neither my right hon. and learned Friend nor his predecessor the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler) has held any such meetings recently.
Part-time Workers
32. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department intends to extend protection at work for part-time workers.
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