House of Commons Hansard Debates for 22 May 1990

Mr. McLoughlin : Copies of Professor Brown's report were circulated on 2 February to five representative

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organisations : the National Union of Maritime, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers (NUMAST) ; the National Union of Seamen (NUS) ; the General Council of British Shipping (GCBS) ; the British Motor Ship Owners Association (BMSOA) ; and the British Offshore Support Vessels Association (BOSVA). All of these organisations have now responded with comments, although one has reserved the right to make further comments at a later stage.

Glasgow Airport

Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Civil Aviation Authority about the installation of radar equipment at Glasgow airport ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin : None. The installation of radar equipment at Glasgow airport is a matter for the British Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Motorway Traffic

Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to ensure that the number of service stations to be opened under the Government's strategic plans for motorway services areas in England will be adequate to cover his Department's estimate of the increase in the volume of traffic using the motorways after 1992.

Mr. Atkins : The Department's design specifications for new motorway service areas (MSAs) are geared to catering for estimated traffic in the year 2020. There are at present more MSAs planned for existing and new motorways. These are at various stages : two will open soon (Tamworth on M42 and Thurrock on M25) and another four or five sites are expected to be tendered this year for construction and subsequent operation by 1992.

There are 42 existing MSAs in England. The Department is reviewing the capacity of each of these with operators. Its aim is to expand sites wherever possible to meet demand at least for 15 years ahead. Where adequate expansion proves impracticable, new infill sites will be sought between existing MSAs.

Roads Investment

Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the Confederation of British Industry to discuss future capital investment on roads.

Mr. Atkins : I have at present no plans to do so.

ENERGY

Council of Energy Ministers

10. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he expects to attend future meetings of the European Community Council of Energy Ministers for discussions on energy saving and anti-pollution measures.

Mr. Wakeham [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1990, c. 590] : The Council, under the presidency of Mr. Molloy, the Irish Energy Minister, made useful progress.

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The Council made significant progress towards establishing a single energy market by adopting a directive on transparency of gas and electricity prices and reaching agreement on a directive on transit on electricity networks. However, in the context of gas transit, support for the monopoly privileges of the main gas transmission companies remains strong in the industry and certain member states ; we hope for further progress under the next presidency.

The Commission agreed to give priority over its recent proposal to a more thorough implementation of the existing regulations on notification of investment projects.

In addition, the Council debated a European Commission report on energy and the environment and adopted valuable conclusions on the contribution energy policies should make to protecting the environment. It approved the Thermie programme for demonstrating and disseminating new energy technologies which should contribute significantly to that end. Commissioner Cardoso reported to the Council on the Commission's recent "Energy for a New Century Conference" which is expected to be a source of ideas for developing future energy policy.

EMPLOYMENT

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

12. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has commissioned any research into the implementation of the COSHH regulations.

Mr. Nicholls : The Health and Safety Executive is committed to an evaluation of the impact of the COSHH regulations. A baseline survey was undertaken before the regulations came into force on 1 October 1989, but it is too early yet to commence work on the

post-implementation evaluation.

Strikes

16. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to remove the right of employers to secure an injunction against an unlawful strike.

Mr. Howard : Anyone threatened with unlawful action is entitled to apply to the courts for an injunction to prevent it. To restrict that right in respect of any particular group of bodies would place them above the law and could not possibly be justified.

Enterprise Allowance Scheme

17. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many businesses were started under the enterprise allowance scheme in 1989- 90.

Mr. Eggar : In 1989-90 almost 78,000 businesses were started under the enterprise allowance scheme.

48. Mr. Leigh : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many businesses have been started under the enterprise allowance scheme since it began.

Mr. Eggar : Over 500,000 unemployed people have been helped to start their own business under the enterprise allowance scheme since it began in 1982.

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Health and Safety

18. Mr. Jim Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to improve health protection and safety conditions in the workplace.

Mr. Nicholls : Responsibility for ensuring satisfactory health and safety standards rests with employers and others concerned at the workplace. The Government have increased financial provision for the Health and Safety Commission and Executive over previously agreed levels again in 1990-91.

The commission's priorities for improving health and safety at work will be set out in its plan of work for 1990-91 and beyond, to be published shortly.

Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to extend health and safety protection in the workplace.

Mr. Nicholls : The Health and Safety Commission is responsible for bringing forward proposals for the reform and extension as necessary of health and safety legislation. Details of the Commission's future legislative programme will be contained in its plan of work for 1990-91 and beyond, which it hopes to publish shortly.

Union Ballots

19. Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any representations about the balloting provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984.

Mr. Howard : My Department continues to receive representation on various aspects of industrial relations law including matters relating to the balloting provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984.

35. Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received from members of trade unions in the last month urging repeal of the balloting provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984.

Mr. Nicholls : No such representations have been received.

Part-time Workers

20. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to extend the protection of part-time workers.

Mr. Nicholls : My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans.

Labour Statistics

21. Mr. Brandon-Bravo : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total work force in employment in (a) May 1979, (b) June 1987 and (c) the latest month for which figures are available.

Mr. Howard : The work force in employment stood at 25.4 million in June 1979, 25.1 million in June 1987, and 27.1 million in December 1989, its highest level ever.

22. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of unemployment in the north-west region in April 1986 and April 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.

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Mr. Nicholls : In April 1990, the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the north-west region was 231,500, compared with 425,200 in April 1986, a fall of 45.6 per cent.

75. Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the population in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham is in full-time employment ; and what is the national average.

Mr. Nicholls : Consistent information at local level on employment and population by place of residence is available only from the census of population.

In the census of population returns for April 1981, 44.7 per cent. of people aged 16 and over and living in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham said that they had worked full-time in the preceding week. The comparable figure for Great Britain was 45.6 per cent.

70. 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 April 1990, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom was 1,605,600.

60. Mr. Knowles : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total increase in the number of jobs in Great Britain since 1979.

Mr. Nicholls : In December 1989, the latest date for which information is available, the work force in employment was 26,487,000, the highest level ever. This represents an increase of 1,720,000, or 7 per cent. since June 1979.

54. Mr. Maples : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total level of unemployment in the 57 urban programme areas in (a) March 1988 and (b) March 1990.

Mr. Nicholls : In the 57 local authority areas in England within which the Government target inner-city programme aid, the number of unemployed claimants in March 1988 was 982,379, compared with 643,981 in March 1990. Direct comparisons over time are affected by various changes to the count, in particular the change in benefit regulations for under 18- year-olds in September 1988, and by seasonal influences. Certain areas may also be affected by changes to the redundant mineworkers payments scheme.

51. Mr. Burt : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage the level of unemployment fell in Bury, North between September 1986 and April 1990.

Mr. Nicholls : Between September 1986 and April 1990 the number of unemployed claimants in Bury, North parliamentary constituency fell by 61 per cent. Direct comparisons are affected by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds in September 1988, and by seasonal influences.

49. Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average monthly fall in unemployment over the period (a) March 1974 to May 1979 and (b) July 1986 to March 1990.

Mr. Nicholls : Between March 1974 and May 1979 there was an average monthly rise in unemployment, seasonally

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adjusted, of 9,484. Between July 1986 to March 1990 the average monthly fall in seasonally adjusted unemployment was 34,761.

37. Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of unfilled vacancies held by job centres in the north -west of England during the last full month for which figures are available.

Mr. Nicholls : In April 1990 the number of unfilled vacancies, seasonally adjusted, at job centres in the north-west region was 23, 200.

27. Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in the United Kingdom ; and what it was in 1979 on the most nearly comparable basis.

Mr. Nicholls : The seasonally adjusted series of unemployment provides figures that are comparable over the time period requested. In April 1990, the seasonally adjusted level of claimant unemployment in the United Kingdom was 1,605,600, compared with 1,089,100 in April 1979.

Economic League

23. Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met representatives of the Economic League to discuss the protection of employees' privacy.

Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend has had no meetings with representatives of the Economic League.

Minimum Wage Protection

24. Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on enforcement of minimum wage protection.

Mr. Nicholls : The level of compliance with wages orders is very high. My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied that the present policy of targeting the resources of the wages inspectorate towards those employers most likely to underpay is the most effective way of enforcing minimum wage legislation.

Single European Market

25. Mr. Aitken : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet his European Community counterparts to discuss the implications of 1992.

Mr. Eggar : I shall be meeting my European Community counterparts at an informal meeting of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers on 28 May and at a full Council meeting the following day to discuss a number of current employment and social issues.

Training

26. Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he will improve health and safety conditions on Government training schemes.

Mr. Nicholls : It will be for the training and enterprise councils, and the local enterprise councils in Scotland, to carry forward sound and effective policies on health and

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safety in conjunction with their training providers. Each TEC must have a detailed planning statement on health and safety incorporated into its contract and will have to comply fully with its terms. Under this statement each TEC must have a systematic and effective monitoring strategy, and it will have to ensure that its staff are well trained to carry out their health and safety obligations.

EC Social Action Programme

28. Mr. Hague : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the Government's approach to the European Commission's social action programme.

Mr. Eggar : We intend to take a full part in the negotiations on the individual proposals in the social action programme. We will measure each proposal against two key criteria : first, its effect on jobs and unemployment ; and secondly, whether it accords with the principle of subsidiarity, which means that action should not be proposed at Community level in areas best left to member states to deal with in accordance with their tradition and practice.

Technical and Vocational Education Initiative

29. Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department plans to spend on the technical and vocational education initiative in the current financial year.

Mr. Eggar : As laid out in the public expenditure White Paper the Department plans to spend £134 million on the technical and vocational education initiative in 1990-91.

Employment Training

30. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether any extra staff have been employed by the Health and Safety Executive to monitor health and safety on employment training schemes.

Mr. Nicholls : No. By virtue of the Health and Safety (Training for Employment) Regulations 1988, participants on employment training and similar training schemes at employers' premises are covered by the full range of statutory health, safety and welfare provisions which apply to employed people. Accordingly, when Health and Safety Executive inspectors are examining conditions at workplaces, they do not differentiate between trainees and employees.

66. Mr. Quentin Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the local authorities which have refused to participate in the employment training programme.

Mr. Nicholls : This information is not available.

Training and Enterprise Councils

31. Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how his Department will monitor the effectiveness of training enterprise councils.

Mr. Eggar : Training and enterprise councils (TECs) will set out in their corporate and business plans detailed

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proposals for training and enterprise to meet local needs. These plans will form part of a TEC's contract with my Department. They will set out key targets and progress towards these targets will be monitored on a regular basis.

62. Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have received development funding.

Mr. Eggar : Seventy-two training and enterprise councils (TECs) have been awarded development funding to date. Of these, 13 TECs have now been approved to become operational.

46. Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of TECs in the north-west.

Mr. Eggar : Five training and enterprise councils (TECs) in the north-west have been approved to become operational, covering Cumbria, south and east Cheshire, Oldham, Rochdale and east Lancashire. A number of other prospective TECs in the north-west are currently preparing their corporate and business plans and I expect them to become operational in due course.

38. Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the first 10 training and enterprise councils to become operational.

Mr. Eggar : Contracts for the first 10 training and enterprise councils (TECs) to become operational were signed on 3 April. These covered :

Hertfordshire

Thames Valley

Devon/Cornwall

Dorset

Calderdale and Kirklees

Cumbria

South and East Cheshire

Teesside

Tyneside

Wearside

In addition a further three TECs have since been approved to go operational. These cover Oldham, Rochdale and east Lancashire.

Disabled People

32. Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new measures he proposes to take to increase employment of disabled people by organisations in both the private and public sectors.

Mr. Eggar : Measures to promote the employment of people with disabilities are among the matters being considered in the review of services for people with disabilities which my Department has been undertaking. We expect to publish next month the consultative document giving the results of the review.

72. Mr. Carrington : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people with disabilities are assisted annually by his Department.

Mr. Eggar : In 1988-89, the latest year for which figures are available, approximately 220,000 people with disabilities were assisted by this Department's employment and training programmes.

43. Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to enable people with disabilities to participate more fully in the workplace.

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