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Division |Number of
|complaints
|received in
|1989
-------------------------------------------------
London |68
South East |89
Eastern |64
South West |201
Midlands |145
North West |323
Yorkshire and Humberside |138
Northern |147
Scotland |246
|-------
Total |1,421
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many wages inspectors are currently in post ; and how many are long term sick.
Mr. Nicholls : There are currently 68 inspectors in post in Great Britain. Three are absent due to sickness which has lasted for three weeks or more.
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what proportion of instances, in which a worker makes an individual complaint to the wages inspectorate, the complaint results in a visit by the wages inspectorate ; in those instances in which a visit occurs, what is the average length of time between receipt of the complaint and the visit ; and in those instances in which under payment is uncovered, what is the average length of time between the visit and the issue of a schedule of arrears to the employer.
Mr. Nicholls : The specific information requested is not available.
All complaints made to the wages inspectorate result in a visit by an inspector, unless it is obvious from the information given by the worker at the outset that the complaint is groundless.
Complaints are given priority over all checking work and inspectors endeavour to complete inspection action, including the issue of an assessment of arrears if appropriate, within four weeks.
Training (North-West)
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on proposals for training in the north-west.
Mr. Eggar : On 3 April my right hon. and learned Friend signed contracts with the Cumbria and South and East Cheshire training and enterprise councils in the north-west. These training and enterprise councils will be responsible for the provision of training and enterprise activities in their localities.
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Employment Agencies (Literature)
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will permit sponsored and commercial employment agencies to deposit their literature at jobcentres for a trial period.
Mr. Eggar : The employment service, which is responsible for jobcentres, became an executive agency on 2 April 1990. Mr. Mike Fogden, the employment service agency's chief executive will be replying in writing to the hon. Gentleman.
Health and Safety Executive
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists concerning levels of staffing in the Health and Safety Executive ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : My right hon. and learned Friend has recently received a letter from the IPMS about staffing in the Health and Safety Executive.
Children (Safety)
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to tighten the laws governing the responsibility of owners of industrial and commercial premises to ensure that sufficient security arrangements exist to prevent children venturing into potentially dangerous situations on those premises.
Mr. Nicholls : Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc, Act 1974 already lays a duty upon every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way so as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employ are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. Such care would include the provision of adequate security arrangements if this was necessary to prevent risks to the public.
Earnings
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time workers, by number and by percentage, earned less than the average earnings figure for all full-time workers in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Mr. Nicholls [holding answer 23 April 1990] : Based on the distribution of earnings in the 1989 new earnings survey sample, the estimated proportion of full-time employees in Scotland was 61 per cent. The proportion of full-time employees in Great Britain earning less than the equivalent average for Great Britain was also 61 per cent. Information for the United Kingdom is not readily available.
Agricultural Inspectorate
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspectors have been employed in the agricultural division of the Health and Safety Executive for each year from 1975 to 1989 ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 188
Mr. Nicholls [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The number of agricultural inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive on 1 April in each year from 1976 was as follows :
|Inspectors
---------------------------------
<1>1976 |5
1977 |187
1978 |186
1979 |190
1980 |178
1981 |176
1982 |166
1983 |159
1984 |154
1985 |162
1986 |163
1987 |166
1988 |158
1989 |165
1990 |171
<1>Agricultural inspectors
joined HSE from MAFF from March
1976, but the bulk of the field
force was not in place until
later in 1976.
Quasi-religious Cults
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that the Training Agency vets education institutions before accepting advertising material from them, with a view to excluding any institution having links with quasi-religious cults.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 23 April 1990] : Steps are already being taken by the Training Agency to ensure that advertising received from educational institutions does not include any material from institutions having links with quasi-religious cults.
TRANSPORT
Troop Transportation
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the agreements and arrangements made with British civil air carriers for the transport of American troops and equipment in a period of rising international tension.
Mr. McLoughlin : Details of plans for the movement of allied forces in a period of tension are classified.
Radioactive Material
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any representations from Kernforschungszentrum, Karlsruhe, West Germany, regarding proposals for the transportation of spent radioactive fuel to the atomic energy research establishment at Dounreay ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : My Department has not received any representations.
Coal Imports (South Africa)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year for the last 10 years and by port the number of tonnes of coal imported from South Africa.
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Mr. McLoughlin : Her Majesty's Customs and Excise figures for imports of coal consigned from South Africa for the last 10 years and by port are as follows :
Thousand tonnes
|1980|1981|1982|1983|1984
------------------------------------------
London<1> |- |0.9 |- |- |-
Colchester |- |- |- |- |2.2
Shoreham |1.4 |- |- |- |-
Southampton |0.5 |- |- |- |-
Exeter |- |- |- |1.2 |18.1
Teignmouth |- |- |- |- |1.5
Watchet |- |- |- |- |1.4
Avonmouth |56.8|76.2|62.8|44.1|16.2
Sharpness |1.0 |- |- |- |-
Liverpool |- |1.7 |- |- |-
Glasgow |- |- |- |- |22.5
Grangemouth |2.1 |- |- |- |-
River Trent |1.2 |- |- |- |5.6
Belfast |1.7 |- |- |- |-
|-- |-- |-- |-- |--
Total |64.7|78.8|62.9|45.3|67.5
<1> Including Tilbury.
Thousand tonnes
|1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989
--------------------------------------------------
London<1> |10.8 |16.4 |5.3 |5.9 |-
Colchester |2.3 |- |- |- |-
Exeter |11.0 |2.6 |2.8 |- |-
Teignmouth |7.6 |- |1.2 |3.2 |2.0
Falmouth |- |- |- |- |7.3
Avonmouth |72.7 |57.1 |15.9 |13.6 |29.0
Swansea |5.3 |- |- |- |-
Greenock |142.1|- |- |- |-
Kirkcaldy |- |- |- |- |1.5
Tyne |0.6 |- |- |- |-
Middlesbrough |- |- |- |- |17.0
Hull |- |4.1 |- |- |-
River Trent |- |- |2.3 |19.2 |14.3
Immingham |41.8 |23.4 |- |9.2 |-
Boston |- |- |- |- |0.8
Harwich |- |0.6 |- |- |-
Belfast |75.3 |2.0 |2.3 |11.5 |4.3
Coleraine |- |- |- |- |1.5
Londonderry |- |- |6.0 |3.3 |3.0
Warrenpoint |- |- |- |- |2.8
|--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Total |369.6|106.2|35.8 |66.0 |83.5
<1> Including Tilbury.
Figures are not available by individual ports of coal originating from South Africa imported via third countries.
Ferries
Mr. David Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take to promote safety improvements on board ferries plying to and from British ports ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Government regard safety as an overriding priority on ferries, as on other means of transport. We have taken a number of steps to improve ferry safety in recent years. New legislation has been introduced, supplemented by increased numbers of random and unannounced inspections of both United Kingdom and non-United Kingdom ferries by Department of Transport marine surveyors. We have also required all United Kingdom flag ferries, irrespective of year of build, to meet the United Kingdom residual
Column 190
stability standards introduced for new vessels in 1980. These requirements exceed current international stability standards. In addition, we have recently published the results of an important research programme, which has considerable implications for ship design and stability standards. We intend to pursue the recommendations resulting from this research through the International Maritime Organisation, and have already taken steps to ensure the proposals are considered at the maritime safety committee in May.National Dock Labour Scheme
76. Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received of new working practices and productivity improvements in ports formerly covered by the national dock labour scheme since the abolition of the scheme.
Mr. McLoughlin : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 5 December 1989 to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman), at column 183.
77. Mr. Arbuthnot : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effects on the port of Southampton of the abolition of the national dock labour scheme.
Mr. McLoughlin : A total of 508 redundancies, on which the Department provides 50 per cent. of the costs of compensation, have taken place or been announced. The trading performance of the port since the dock labour scheme was abolished is a matter for Associated British Ports, Southampton.
Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made to him by employers in dock areas since the abolition of the national dock labour scheme.
Cycling
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made towards developing a network for longer distance cycling in London ; and if he intends to extend the initiative outside London.
Mr. Atkins : The Department has welcomed in principle the proposed development of a 1,000-mile strategic network of cycle routes for London.
The idea of establishing a network has been promoted by the London Cycling Forum, of which the Department is a member. It is for individual highway authorities to develop those parts of the network which fall within their areas, but the Department is ready to help London boroughs with guidance and technical advice.
The Department has already contributed towards the development of a cycle network in London by providing crossing points of trunk roads for cycle routes. We have also provided some cycle tracks on new trunk roads and additional cycling facilities on existing trunk roads.
In conjunction with the London planning advisory committee, the Department is organising a technical seminar to be held later in the year. This would be for London boroughs, and other bodies with an interest in providing cycling facilities in London.
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The Department offers guidance to all local authorities on aspects of planning and designing facilities for cycling, through its traffic advisory unit and a wide range of publications.Ferry Fire
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the fire on board B & I ferry Norrona en route from Pembroke dock to Ireland on Monday 9 April, and the subsequent involvement of the rescue services.
Mr. McLoughlin : At 2319 GMT on 8 April, the Master of the B & I chartered ferry Norrona, outward bound from Pembroke Dock for Rosslare, called Milford Haven Coastguard reporting a fire on board. The Coastguard immediately scrambled a rescue helicopter from RAF Brawdy, launched St. Davids and Fishguard lifeboats and made arrangements for a fire-fighting team from Dyfed county fire brigade to be airlifted to the ferry. It then became known that there were injured persons on board requiring evacuation. Additional helicopter help was requested : a further one from RAF Brawdy and one, with a doctor on board, from RNAS Culdrose.
Approximately one and a half hours after reporting the fire, the master indicated that it had been extinguished. The ferry returned to Pembroke Dock under her own power. The fire officers remained on board the ship up until she docked at 0315 GMT. Ambulances stood by at the dock to transport other injured persons to hospital. The cause of the fire is being investigated by an inspector from marine accident investigation branch and, as arson is suspected, by the police.
Severn Crossings
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the percentage distribution between the sources of finances offered by the European Investment Bank and other sources offered by the two consortia who bid for the construction of the second Severn crossing ;
(2) what toll levels, over what period and rate of inflation on the Severn crossings were offered by the Trafalgar house/Balfour Beatty consortium and the Laing/GTM Entrepose consortium ;
(3) whether there was any difference in the burden for bearing the risks of the growth of future traffic levels in the bids made by the two consortia who bid for the second Severn crossing ;
(4) whether he advised the Trafalgar House-Balfour Beatty consortium of his concern at the perceived financial risk relating to the subordinated debt of £60 million on the existing crossing during the assessment period of the bids for the second Severn crossing.
Mr. Atkins : Both the final two shortlisted consortia offered a range of alternative financing and tolling options within their privately financed proposals. Details of these must remain commercially confidential. All proposals were assessed on the basis indicated to the bidders in the Department's tender invitation document, which explained that risks would need to be evaluated.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the experience of Laing GTM Entrepose of constructing estuarial bridges comparable with the Severn bridge and in current work in infrastructure in the British private sector.
Column 192
Mr. Atkins : Following the assessment of tenders, my right hon. Friend was fully satisfied that the Laing-GTM consortium has the requisite experience and capability to construct the second Severn crossing.
M11 Service Areas
Mr. Haselhurst : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which sites were given detailed evaluation for the establishment of a services area on the M11 motorway before Birchanger was nominated.
Mr. Atkins : In addition to Birchanger, 15 potential service area sites were examined between junctions 6 and 9 of the M11, at : Audley End Estate
Wendens Ambo
Whiteditch Farm
Whiteditch
Between Elsenham Station and Ugley Green (six sites)
Parsonage Farm
Sheering
Moor Hall
Junction 7
North Weald Airfield
These sites were first considered at various dates between 1966 and 1981 when the planning application was made. In 1988 each site was revisited by consultants to check that earlier assessments of them remained valid.
Road Funding
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the proposed level, at 1990 prices, of central Government funding for road improvements and new construction for each of the next three years ; what proportion that will represent of total road spending ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The proposed level of central Government funding for new construction and improvement of roads in Great Britain for the next three financial years at 1990-91 prices is :
|£ million
------------------------------
1990-91 |1,818
1991-92 |1,785
1992-93 |1,828
These figures include grants to local authorities for road construction and improvement. In addition, the financing costs of local authorities' use of credit approvals for road construction and so on, are taken into account in the determination of the standard service assessment on which the distribution of revenue support grant is based. Local authorities are free to undertake other local roads expenditure within their overall capital resources and it is therefore not possible to estimate what proportion of total road spending these figures will represent.
The spending on new construction and improvement of trunk roads and motorways represents the following proportions of total spending on these roads :
|Percentage
---------------------------------
1990-91 |70.1
1991-92 |69.5
1992-93 |70.4
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was invested by central Government, in each of the last five years at 1990 prices, in road improvements and new construction.
Mr. Atkins : In the last five financial years the total invested at 1990-91 prices by central Government in new construction and improvement of roads in Great Britain was :
|£ million
------------------------------
1985-86 |1,211
1986-87 |1,146
1987-88 |1,227
1988-89 |1,287
1989-90 |1,509
Rail Investment
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of British Rail's capital investment programme, in each of the last five years, has been funded by central Government ; and how much that represented in each year at 1990 prices.
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Mr. Portillo : Table 7.33 in chapter 7 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990-91 to 1992-93" (Cm. 1007) sets out British Rail's capital requirements and the internal and external resources from which these are met. "External finance" comprises subsidy paid by the Government and borrowing, principally from the National Loans Fund. We do not apportion particular forms of finance between investment and other expenditure. British Rail "rail" investment (which includes investment charged to revenue account) since 1985-86 is as follows, in £ million and at constant 1990-91 prices :
Year |Rail
|investment
---------------------------------
1985-86 |528
1986-87 |511
1987-88 |640
1988-89 |647
1989-90 |<1>675
Note:
<1> Based on BR forecast.
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