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Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether a training instructor in the armed forces has ever been charged for failing in his duty to observe a defence council instruction relating to the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury ; (2) whether a training instructor in the armed forces has ever been charged for failing in his duty to observe the training regulations relating to the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Not over the last 10 years for which records are available.

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the other branches of the forces intend to modify their training programmes to match the changes made by the Royal Navy following the heat-related injury to Lieutenant Simon Rowland.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Relevant training practices in the other services are being examined to establish whether any of the changes being introduced by the Royal Navy are applicable.

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether training instructors have a duty to observe the training regulations relating to the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury ; and if it is an offence to disregard them.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : If a training regulation imposes a duty on a training instructor which he fails to carry out or carries out negligently, he can be charged with an offence under the relevant service discipline Act.

Training Injuries

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many men died or were seriously injured while taking part in SAS, SBS or Royal Marine training courses during 1989.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is not the practice to comment on matters relating to special forces. During 1989 three men died and one serious injury was sustained as a result of participation in Royal Marine training courses or exercises.

Training Instructors

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to require training instructors to dress in the same clothes and carry the same equipment as those they are training.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : No. This would not always be practicable, especially in cases where such a requirement

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would undermine the effectiveness of the supervision provided by instructors, which is important for safety and other reasons.

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether training instructors have a duty to observe defence council instructions ; and if it is an offence to disregard them.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Defence council instructions are not usually expressed as direct orders and non-compliance with any given instruction is therefore not automatically an offence. However, if a defence council instruction imposes a duty on a training instructor which he fails to carry out or carries out negligently, he can be charged with an offence under the relevant service discipline Act.

Hazardous Training

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any obligatory medical checks on members of the forces before they take part in potentially hazardous training.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The PULHHEEMS system is the standard assessment of each individual's medical fitness for all aspects of service with Her Majesty's forces. Additional medical examinations are provided in specialised occupations such as pilots and divers.

Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there is any limitation on the discretion of commanding officers regarding the hazardous nature of training courses for which they have responsibility.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Commanding officers are responsible for the health and safety of those in their charge and, in conducting training, they are required to have full regard to this responsibility and to the framework of relevant instructions, guidance and advice (including medical advice), while ensuring that training is of military value.

Chemical and Biological Defence

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are currently employed in research and development into pyrotechnic equipment for chemical and biological defence ; and if he has any plans to increase the complement of staff or consultants working in this field.

Mr. Neubert [holding answer 1 March 1990] : The Ministry of Defence has no personnel currently employed in research and development into pyrotechnic equipment for chemical and biological defence, nor is there any intention to engage such personnel. The Department is, however, considering purchase of equipment developed in this field.

Forest Moor Base

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new building work has been commissioned at the Forest Moor base over the last five years ; and at what cost.

Mr. Archie Hamilton [holding answer 5 March 1990] : Contracts for the following works at Forest Moor have been let in the past five years :

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UK HF Ship-to-Shore Aerials

Patching Jack Field

COMMCEN Security Improvements

Conversions to Repair Laboratory

Crypto Workshop and Store Improvements

Galley/Drainage System Improvements

Provision for Refuse Compactor

Anti-Pollution Measures

CCTV System

COMMCEN Access Control Improvements

Road Drainage Improvements

Sports Field Drainage Improvements

Provision of Security Fences and Water Tower

COMMCEN Structural Alterations

Sewage Ejector Station Up-Grade

Demolition of Masts and Towers

Other Security Measures

The total value of these contracts was £421,096,000.

EMPLOYMENT

Wages Councils

2. Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he takes to monitor the effectiveness of the wages councils.

Mr. Nicholls : The councils are empowered to set minimum rates of pay in certain industries. The extent of compliance with these rates is regularly assessed.

Labour Statistics

16. Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much long-term unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds has fallen in the past year.

Mr. Howard : In the year to January, long-term unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds fell by almost 46,000 or 33 per cent.

22. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who were long-term unemployed in (a) the quarter to January 1986 and (b) the quarter to January 1990.

Mr. Howard : Between January 1986 and January 1990 the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who have been unemployed for 12 months or more fell by 243,000 or 73 per cent.

26. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the work force in employment in the United Kingdom has increased since March 1983.

Mr. Nicholls : Since 1983 the United Kingdom work force in employment has been on a rising trend. In September 1989, the latest date for which information is available, the work force in employment was 26,487,000. This represents an increase of 2,923,000 or 12.4 per cent. since March 1983 when the figure was 23,563,000.

30. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage reduction in the total number of long-term unemployed people in the last two years.

Mr. Nicholls : Between January 1988 and January 1990 the number of unemployed claimants in the United

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Kingdom who had been unemployed for one year or more fell by about 48 per cent. The comparison is slightly affected by the changes in coverage of the count over the period specified.

32. Mr. Burt : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage change in unemployment in the Bury, North constituency during the period September 1986 to December 1989.

Mr. Nicholls : Between September 1986 and December 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in Bury, North parliamentary constituency fell by about 60 per cent. Direct comparisons are affected by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds in September 1988, and by seasonal influences.

44. Mr. Duffy : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time jobs have been created in the city of Sheffield in 1989.

Mr. Nicholls : This information is not available. The Department's statistics for local areas monitor only net changes in employment between census of employment dates and the most recent figures are for September 1987.

47. Mr. Anthony Beaumont-Dark : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total numbers in employment in the west midlands (a) currently and (b) one year ago.

Mr. Nicholls : In September 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, the civilian work force in employment in the west midlands region was 2,398,000. This represents an increase of 59,000 or 2.5 per cent. since September 1988 when the figure was 2,339,000.

50. 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 January 1990, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom was 1,611,400, the lowest for more than nine years on a consistent basis.

56. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unemployment rate among those aged under 25 years for (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Community.

67. Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many European Community countries have a higher rate of unemployment among those aged under 25 years than the United Kingdom.

Mr. Nicholls : In December 1989, the latest available date, the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom among under 25-year-olds was 8.2 per cent., under half that of the EC average of 16.5 per cent. The rate for eight of our EC partners is higher than this. The rate for Greece is unavailable.

57. Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of employed in each of the standard regions in (a) June 1989 and (b) June 1979.

Mr. Nicholls : The information is as follows :

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Civilian workforce in employment (unadjusted for seasonal variation)            


(Thousands)

60. Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for how many months the unemployment total has been falling.

Mr. Nicholls : The unemployment total in the United Kingdom has now been falling continuously for 42 months on a consistent basis.

65. Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of new jobs created in the last three years are of part-time character ; and what proportion of the total number of employees are part- time.

Mr. Nicholls : There are no figures for new jobs created but only for net increases in employment. In the three years to September 1989, the latest date for which estimates are available, 27 per cent. of the net increase in employees in employment was in part-time jobs. Part-time employees in employment now represent 24 per cent. of the total number of the employees.

72. Mr. Gill : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the percentage of the work force working outside the public sector over the last 10 years ; and what is the overall trend allowing for the effect of privatisation.

Mr. Nicholls : Mid-year estimates of employment in the public sector are prepared by the Central Statistical Office. Estimates of the total work force are prepared by the Department of Employment. On this basis, the proportion working outside the public sector rose from 69.4 per cent. in 1979 to 74.4 per cent. in 1989. This increase includes the effects of privatisation. The data that would enable reliable estimates of the change in the proportion working outside the public sector allowing for the effects of privatisation are not available.

75. Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the fall in the numbers of unemployed people aged 50 years and over over the last year.

Mr. Nicholls : Between January 1989 and January 1990 the number of unemployed claimants aged 50 years and over in the United Kingdom fell by about 113,000 or 26 per cent. This comparison is affected by the changes in the operation of the redundant mineworkers payments scheme in July 1989. These changes will particularly have affected older age groups.

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Training

18. Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any proposals to improve the level of training for new skills.

Mr. Howard : The Government are investing almost £3 billion this year in training, and in the introduction of training and enterprise councils across the country. Training and enterprise councils represent the most exciting training initiative this country has ever seen, and I am delighted by the progress they are making and the support they are receiving.

36 . Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he plans to meet his European Economic Community counterparts to discuss training and retraining schemes and the exchange of ideas between different systems in European countries.

Mr. Nicholls : My right hon. and learned Friend has already visited Bonn to discuss training issues with his counterparts there and also held bilateral discussions in Dublin before attending the informal meeting of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers on 1 to 2 March, which included a review of EC training initiatives. It is hoped that a number of bilaterals with colleagues in other member states will be arranged within the next six months.

27. Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in annual expenditure by his Department on training since 1979 in (a) real terms and (b) cash terms.

Mr. Nicholls : Records are kept on the basis of the standard financial year for Government expenditure, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.

The increase in annual expenditure on training programmes from 1979-80 to 1989-90 in cash terms is £2,512 million. When expenditure is inflated to constant 1989-90 prices the increase is £1,966.4 million.

49. Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the provision of training by employers.

Mr. Nicholls : The latest available figures show that in 1986-87 £18 billion was spent by employers on training. This represents a very considerable investment in the skills of the British work force.

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51. Mr. Janman : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the proportion of gross domestic product represented by the overall cost of all training undertaken in Britain.

Mr. Nicholls : It has been estimated that in 1986-87 the total costs of training, including the implicit cost to trainees of earnings forgone while on training, was about 8 per cent. of gross domestic product.

59. Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the overall cost of all training undertaken in Britain in 1986-87.

Mr. Nicholls : It has been estimated that the total costs of training, including the implicit cost to trainees of earnings forgone while on training, was about £33 billion in 1986-87.

Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what percentage of employment training places employers make additional contributions to the cost of training ; and what is the average contribution.

Mr. Nicholls : The information requested is not available.

Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to increase jobs in the manufacturing sector through training programmes ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls : The overall aim of Government training programmes is to promote better arrangements for people to acquire and improve their skills and competence for work. Improved training arrangements will in turn lead to a more highly skilled and competent work force and a more competitive economy, thus promoting employment in manufacturing as elsewhere.

Low Pay

21. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to eradicate low pay.

Mr. Nicholls : The best way to help the lowest paid is through the development of a prosperous and growing economy which the Government's policies are helping to achieve.

Euro Information Centres

23. Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future funding of Euro information centres.

Mr. Eggar : The first four centres in the United Kingdom were established in 1987 ; a further 16 for the United Kingdom were approved in October 1989 and will be operational by April this year. The Commission provides pump-priming funds on a reducing basis in the first three years of operation.

Self-Employment

24. Mr. Kirkhope : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the numbers of self-employed people since 1979.

Mr. Eggar : In September 1989, the latest date for which information is available, there were 3,276,000 self-employed people in the United Kingdom. This represents

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an increase of 1,370,000, or 72 per cent., since June 1979. Self-employed people now represent 12.2 per cent. of the work force in employment.

79. Mr. Stevens : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the work force in employment is now self-employed.

Mr. Nicholls : In September 1989, the latest date for which information is available, self-employed people represented 12.2 per cent. of the work force in employment.

Training and Enterprise Councils

25. Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have been approved for pilot funding ; how many applications are being processed ; and how many areas of the country are still to make applications.

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