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49. Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met his opposite numbers in Germany, France and Italy to discuss training.
Mr. Howard : This year I have visited West Germany and Italy to discuss training issues with my opposite numbers. When I attended the EC Labour and Social Affairs Council of Ministers in May and an informal meeting of this Council in Italy on 12 July, at which training was discussed, I met my counterparts from these and other EC member states.
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Labour Mobility
30. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the early indications of greater labour mobility between European Community member states ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : There are no reliable estimates of labour mobility between European Community member states.
Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
31. Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from organisations in Lancashire on his plans for the technical and vocational education initiative extension programme.
Mr. Jackson : Lancashire is being funded to start its extension programme this autumn. There have been several representations seeking more funds in the first year of the programme. The Department is reassuring the education authority, schools and colleges that Lancashire will be getting its full share of funds over the life of the programme.
52. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals for the technical and vocational education initiative for the next three years.
Mr. Jackson : By September 1990, 103 education authorities will be in their five-year extension phase of TVEI. The remaining 29 authorities will come into extension when resources permit, provided the authorities' plans meet the appropriate standards. The total budget available for TVEI in 1990-91 is £134 million. Planned expenditure for 1991-92 and 1992- 93 is £133 million and £141 million respectively. The total cost of the extension phase will be about £900 million as envisaged in 1986 when TVEI extension was announced.
67. Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy on the development and financing of the technical and vocational education initiative.
Mr. Jackson : TVEI brings important benefits to pupils and employers and contributes to improving the nation's skill supply. The Government therefore aim to extend TVEI to all 14 to 18-year-olds in maintained schools and colleges and are providing £900 million for this purpose. In each local authority TVEI extension funding is spread over five years and by this autumn 103 authorities will have started their extension phase.
Secondary Picketing
32. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to reintroduce the right to carry out mass secondary picketing.
Mr. Forth : There are no such plans.
Mines (Safety)
33. Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has considered external legal advice in regard to proposed changes in the regulation of safety in mines.
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Mr. Forth : The Health and Safety Commission would submit regulatory proposals to Ministers only if it was satisfied on legal advice from its solicitor that they were legally sound.
Footballers (YTS)
34. Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the England football team in the world cup competition had received football training under YTS.
Mr. Howard : Two members of the England football team--Paul Gascoigne and David Platt--have received football training under YTS.
38. Mr. Stevens : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met a professional footballer who had received football training under YTS.
Mr. Howard : I met Paul Gascoigne in Naples during the quarter- finals of the world cup on 1 July.
45. Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the football training made available under YTS in recent years.
Mr. Howard : Football training has been provided under YTS and now under youth training since the introduction of YTS in 1983. All 92 Football League clubs are involved in youth training.
The effectiveness of the training is evident from the substantial number of ex-trainees now playing regular first team football at clubs throughout the four divisions of the Football League and at international level. The last four young players of the year, including this year's winner, Matthew Le Tissier, were trained on YTS, as were Paul Gascoigne and David Platt, who excelled in England's world cup team in Italy this year.
Health and Safety Executive
35. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to improve the work of the Health and Safety Executive.
Mr. Forth : The Health and Safety Commission's plan of work for 1990 -91 and beyond sets out the priorities of the commission and executive for this and the next two years. The plan will be published in July.
Employee Involvement
41. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to help encourage further the degree of employee involvement among British companies.
Mr. Forth : My right hon. and learned Friend takes every opportunity to emphasise the importance of effective employee involvement. The Department promotes and supports its development through research and by publicising best practice, as in our booklet "People and Companies".
Wages Councils
43. Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he proposes to introduce to improve the working of the wages councils.
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Mr. Forth : The councils are empowered to set minimum rates of pay in certain industries. Checks by wages inspectors show that compliance with wages council orders is running at a very high level.Sheltered Placement Scheme
46. Mrs. Heal : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future funding arrangements for the sheltered placement scheme.
Mr. Jackson : Proposals for a rebalancing of the sheltered employment programme over a transitional period of five years, in favour of sheltered placements, are contained in the consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" which was published on 29 June. Views are invited on the existing funding arrangements and possible cost-effective improvements to them which could be met within existing resources. Interested parties have until 31 December to comment.
Agriculture (Accidents)
50. Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to introduce to prevent deaths due to agricultural work.
Mr. Forth : No legislative proposals are planned. However, the Health and Safety Executive will continue with its programme of strategies aimed at helping the agricultural industry to achieve reductions in fatal accident levels. These include : targeting inspection at those workplaces that present the greatest risk to employees, the self-employed, their families and the general public including children, carrying out advisory and publicity work to promote an increased awareness of health and safety in the industry, and liaising with all sides of industry to improve the health and safety aspects of products.
In seeking compliance with health and safety legislation, inspectors will also use innovative inspection techniques including blitz initiatives targeted at specific farming operations. They will also pay more attention to the management of health and safety. Inspectors will pursue their inquiries and any enforcement action to the highest levels at workplaces which do not measure up to the standards expected of them.
63. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to introduce to prevent accidents and fatalities as a result of agricultural work.
Mr. Forth : No legislative proposals are planned. However, the Health and Safety Executive will continue with its programme of strategies aimed at helping the agricultural industry to achieve reductions in the numbers of non-fatal and fatal accidents. These include : targeting inspection at those workplaces that present the greatest risk to employees, the self-employed, their families and the general public including children, carrying out advisory and publicity work to promote an increased awareness of health and safety in the industry, and liaising with all sides of industry to improve the health and safety aspects of products.
In seeking compliance with health and safety legislation, inspectors will also use innovative inspection techniques including blitz initiatives targeted at specific farming operations. They will also pay more attention to the management of health and safety.
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Inspectors will pursue their inquiries and any enforcement action to the highest levels at workplaces which do not measure up to the standards expected of them.Employee Rehabilitation Centre, Cardiff
53. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for the provision after 1993 of the services of the employee rehabilitation centre, Western avenue, Cardiff.
Mr. Jackson : Plans for the provision after 1993 of the services of the employment rehabilitation centre, Western avenue, Cardiff, have yet to be made. The South Glamorgan committee for the employment of disabled people will be consulted in drawing up any such plans.
Minimum Wage
54. Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effects on employment of the introduction of a minimum wage requirement at the level of half median male earnings.
Mr. Forth : Officials in the Department have estimated that the introduction of a minimum wage set at half median male earnings would result in the loss of about three quarters of a million jobs.
EPCOT
55. Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to pay an official visit to the British showcase at EPCOT in Florida.
Mr. Howard : I have no plans to make an official visit to the British showcase in Florida.
Astra Training Services Ltd.
56. Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many freehold sites have been sold to Astra Training Services Ltd. ; what is the total anticipated revenue ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : The sale of training businesses at 45 skill centres plus the STA head office, mobile training service, sales teams and colleges to Astra Training Services Ltd. included the acquisition by Astra of 28 freehold sites. These sites formed part of the overall sale package, which involved a payment from the Government to Astra of some £10.7 million.
Confederation of British Industry
59. Mr. Madel : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans to meet the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the estimated size and skills knowledge of the labour force for the rest of the decade ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : My right hon. and learned Friend meets the CBI from time to time to discuss a wide range of labour market issues. These include the importance of determining the future training needs of the work force and how best employers can meet these needs in the light of demographic trends forecast for the next 10 years.
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Low Pay
60. Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on low pay.
Mr. Forth : I refer the hon. Member to the Minister of State's reply to the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms. Mowlam) on 22 May 1990 at column 157.
Industrial Action
61. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days have been lost over the last two years through unofficial industrial action ; and what proportion this constitutes of the total number of days lost through industrial action.
Mr. Forth : A special exercise has shown that in 1988 approximately 1.3 million working days were lost through unofficial stoppages, about one third of the total for the year. The analysis is not available for 1989.
Youth Training
64. Mr. Jim Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recontracting process for youth training.
Mr. Jackson : The youth training recontracting process has been managed successfully and 98 per cent. of providers have agreed new contracts.
Tourism
70. Mr. Butterfill : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he has taken to improve standards in the small hotel and guest house sector.
Mr. Forth : The English tourist board operates the "Crown" classification and grading scheme for serviced accommodation. One of the main objectives of the scheme is to improve the quality and range of services and facilities offered to the customer. About 11,000 establishments in England are already participating in it and more are joining all the time. Over half of the participants have applied for a commendation for quality, a new optional feature of the scheme.
Health and Safety Commission
72. Mr. Jack Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met members of the Health and Safety Commission ; and what subjects were discussed.
Mr. Forth : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) on 29 June 1990 at column 342.
Creche Facilities
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms operating in Scotland currently provide creche facilities for their employees' children ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : This information is not collected.
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the achievements of (a) his policies and (b) his Department in
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helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months ; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.Mr. Forth : The Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures and through specific programmes of support and assistance. The success of their policies is demonstrated by the latest statistics which show a record increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT, of around 1,700 a week during 1989. Over the decade the overall increase has been 373, 000.
Measures operated by my Department to assist small businesses include : the small firms service, which is operated by the Training Agency of the Department, and provides information and business counselling to new and established businesses. It was a record year for the service, which carried out more counselling, more work with growing firms, and answered more inquiries during 1989-90, than ever before. In the last financial year, the service answered over 317,000 inquiries (an increase of 12.9 per cent. on 1988-89), handled over 36,000 counselling sessions (an increase of 17.7 per cent. on 1988-89), and conducted over 36,000 counselling cases (an increase of 20.4 per cent. on 1988-89).
Business growth training was introduced in 1989 to provide help to established firms to develop their business and management skills. It has already proved to be a highly successful scheme, with over 122, 000 owner managers assisted to date.
My Department also provides financial assistance through the enterprise allowance scheme and makes substantial grants available to Business in the Community, local enterprise agencies and the Prince's Youth Business Trust amongst others. To take the enterprise allowance scheme as an example, it has been a great encouragement to unemployed people to go into self- employment. In the period 1989-90 over 78,000 have participated in the scheme. Since the start in 1983 over 500,000 people have taken advantage of the scheme.
The enterprise training element of employment training and the business enterprise programme help people set up in business through the provision of targeted training in all the basic aspects of business. The combined number of entrants to these programmes increased from 43,489 in 1987-88 to 59,480 in 1989-90. In addition, the graduate enterprise programme helps graduates take the first steps to setting up businesses on their own. The number of entrants to this programme rose to 1,184 in 1989-90.
Assistance of this type for the self-employed and small firms will in future be provided locally by training and enterprise councils. TECs will have the opportunity to tailor assistance to local circumstances.
The loan guarantee scheme continues to enhance smaller firms' access to finance. In the 12 months to 30 June 1990, 3,450 loans were guaranteed representing total lending of £104 million. Usage during the year remained buoyant with applications averaging 285 a month compared with 200 a month in the previous year, and 120 a month two years ago.
Over the past year I have continued my campaign to improve the access of small firms to Government contracts. My Department has published and distributed
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booklets designed for both Government purchasers and small firms which identify purchasing needs, departmental contacts and give guidance on improving Government purchasing procedures. I have also appointed a purchasing consultant to improve the systems by which small firms can get better access to public contracts. My Department publicises its own contracts and has produced a departmental guide for those companies that want to tender, including small firms. We have encouraged managers to use local small firms in devolving the purchasing function and budgets where appropriate.My Department has continued with action to reduce burdens on business ; through the Employment Act 1989, for example, the procedures for taking on women and young people have been simplified. We have also produced a range of advice and guidance for smaller companies, including the well-received self-employment starter pack. As well as maintaining a close interest in domestic deregulation, we are working hard to ensure that the EC's social charter does not impose unnecessary burdens, with the circumstances of small businesses very much in mind.
The Department monitors all its programmes and also commissions external evaluations which are published. In December 1989 we published an overview, "Small Firms in Britain", a copy of which is in the Library. The report surveys developments in the sector, includes key statistical indicators and outlines Government policy and measures as a whole towards small firms.
Flame-retardant Fabrics
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what evidence he has that workers in the upholstery and bedding industry are experiencing health problems as a result of the materials used in the manufacture of flame-retardant covers and treated fabrics ; (2) whether the Health and Safety Executive has had discussions with the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union regarding the materials used in the manufacture of flame-retardant covers and treated fabrics ;
(3) if he will ask the Health and Safety Executive to carry out an investigation into (a) the abrasive effect of coated fabrics upon hands and arms and (b) nose and throat irritation from dipped and sprayed fabrics experienced by employees in the manufacture of flame-retardant covers and treated fabrics in the upholstery and bedding industry.
Mr. Forth : The Health and Safety Executive is already investigating evidence that flame-retardant and crease-resistant finishes applied to textile fabrics may result in skin, nose and throat irritation in workers handling those fabrics in the upholstery and bedding industries, and has been discussing the problem with the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union.
European Social Fund
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will forward plans submitted to his Department from voluntary sector projects to the European social fund for approval.
Mr. Forth : Operational programmes, which represent aggregated bids from all interested organisations, including those representing the voluntary sector, were
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submitted to the European Commission on 15 June. No individual project applications have as yet been made by the voluntary sector.Maternity Pay
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to harmonise female employees' entitlement to maternity leave related to pay with the practice in other countries in the European Community ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans. The Government believe that member states should be free to make their own arrangements for maternity, in accordance with national traditions and practices.
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will lift the present restriction whereby female employees are entitled to claim maternity benefit only when they have worked for the same employer for two or more years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : I have been asked to reply.
No such restriction exists. Statutory maternity pay (SMP) is payable for 18 weeks to women who have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks at the qualifying week (the 15th week before the baby is due). Where a woman with a recent employment record has worked for her current employer for fewer than 26 weeks she will normally qualify for maternity allowance from the Department of Social Security instead of SMP from her employer.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Moss : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been reported since the start of the current year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : The number of suspect cases placed under restrictions each week is as follows :
Week ending |Number ----------------------------------------- 5 January 1990 |245 12 January 1990 |293 19 January 1990 |283 26 January 1990 |294 2 February 1990 |309 9 February 1990 |329 16 February 1990 |361 23 February 1990 |369 2 March 1990 |424 9 March 1990 |392 16 March 1990 |402 23 March 1990 |354 30 March 1990 |334 6 April 1990 |328 13 April 1990 |295 20 April 1990 |274 27 April 1990 |303 4 May 1990 |349 11 May 1990 |338 18 May 1990 |399 25 May 1990 |365 1 June 1990 |353 8 June 1990 |362 15 June 1990 |247 22 June 1990 |291 29 June 1990 |262 6 July 1990 |219 13 July 1990 |206
The pattern of suspect cases reported this year has so far followed closely the trend that occurred in 1989, in which an increase in cases during January and February was followed by an overall decrease during the spring months, albeit with fluctuations. Whilst there has been an underlying decrease in the numbers reported in the last few months compared to the high point in February/March, this has been subject to marked fluctuations and it cannot be assumed that this trend will continue.
Agricultural Prices
Mr. Moss : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will describe the net effects on supply estimates of the European Community decisions on agricultural prices for 1990-91.
Mr. Gummer : The voted provision for class III vote 1 for the intervention board executive agency (CAP market support) is a token of £1,000 due to the forecasts of receipts exceeding expenditure. The cost of the price-fixing decisions in the United Kingdom in 1990-91 has been estimated at £125 million. This relates mainly to the devaluation of the green pound and to reductions in the payment period for intervention intake. These measures, together with changes in market conditions which have arisen since the supply estimates were published, are expected to result both in increased expenditure and receipts. The necessary changes will be sought through a winter supplementary estimate.
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the achievements of (a) his policies and (b) his Ministry in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months ; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
Mr. Maclean : The Government have continued to place high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures and through specific programmes of support and assistance.
The Department has continued to contribute significantly to this process. We have maintained pressure for a more market-oriented common agricultural policy, and the 1990 price-fixing agreement consolidated the progress made last year. These achievements, together with the reforms to systems of agricultural support worldwide being negotiated in the current GATT round, will further encourage a competitive and efficient agricultural industry, well placed to compete with its counterparts in other Community countries.
We have also continued to make available to farmers a range of income- generating schemes--for example the
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farm woodlands scheme, set-aside, the farm diversification grant scheme and the environmentally sensitive areas scheme --designed to encourage them to diversify their enterprises, as well as provide opportunities to enhance the environment. We have recently launched pilot schemes to encourage more extensive farming of beef cattle and sheep.All the schemes operated by my Department are closely monitored. Reports on particular schemes are published from time to time.
Plankton Recorder Programme
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in re-establishing the continuous plankton recorder programme.
Mr. Maclean : Following the withdrawal of direct funding by the Natural Environment Research Council from the continuous plankton recorder survey, the Ministry has renewed its contract with NERC for £150,000 per annum for a further two years to safeguard the Ministry's interests in this survey as a source of valuable information relevant to our fisheries and environmental protection interests.
The Ministry has successfully persuaded the international scientific community of the value of maintaining such environmental monitoring programmes and took the lead in promoting an international funding trust to secure the future of this survey. I am pleased to report that the international response has been sufficient to enable the trust to be established so that the survey will continue. The constitution of the trust is currently being drafted.
Aspartame
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether the Food Advisory Committee considered (a) summary or (b) full data when it approved the use of aspartame ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he will place the data considered by the Food Advisory Committee on aspartame in the Library.
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