| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 222
These substantial reductions of burdens on the Soltau-Luneburg area in 1992 and the ending of British military training in that area by mid-1994 are the result of successful efforts by the two Defence Ministers. The mutually agreed solution became possible as a result of the restructuring and reduction of the armed forces of NATO in a changed security environment in Europe.We would like to express our appreciation to Dr. Stoltenberg for the offer of excellent alternative training facilities which has made it possible for us to cease using Soltau-Luneburg, as the German Government wished.
EMPLOYMENT
Industrial Tribunals
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the current maximum, current average and the current minimum waiting time for cases to reach a hearing by industrial tribunals in the area covered by the (a) Leeds, (b) Nottingham and (c) Cardiff regional office of industrial tribunals ; and what were the comparable waiting times in each of the last five years for which records are available ;
(2) what is the current maximum, current average and the current minimum waiting time for cases to reach a hearing by industrial tribunals in the area covered by the (a) Southampton, (b) Bristol and (c) Bury St. Edmund's regional office of industrial tribunals ; and what were the comparable waiting periods in each of the last five years for which records are available ;
(3) what is the current maximum, current average and the current minimum waiting time for cases to reach a hearing by industrial tribunals in the area covered by the (a) Newcastle, (b) Manchester and (c) Birmingham regional office of industrial tribunals ; and what were the comparable waiting times in each of the last five years for which records are available ;
(4) what is the current maximum, current average and the current minimum waiting time for cases to reach a hearing by industrial tribunals in the area covered by the (a) London South and (b) London North regional office of industrial tribunals ; and what were the comparable waiting times in each of the last five years for which records are available.
Mr. Forth : I regret that the information is not available in the precise form requested. The figures in the table show the percentage of applications coming to first hearing at an industrial tribunal within six, eight, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 26 weeks respectively of receipt of the application. The figures for the period 1 April to 15 October 1991 are provisional.
Column 221
Industrial tribunals (England and Wales): waiting time
for cases to come to first hearing
Region-period Under (weeks)
|6 |8 |10|12|16|20|26
---------------------------------------------------------
Bristol
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |1 |2 |3 |5 |35|61|82
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |4 |14|27|41|64|76|89
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |6 |25|41|57|74|82|89
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |10|31|48|61|77|84|90
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |3 |21|41|57|75|84|92
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |3 |15|36|54|73|82|93
Bristol
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |13|28|50|59|73|83|93
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |8 |19|37|49|70|81|90
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |10|30|46|58|77|88|96
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |13|26|37|49|68|76|84
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |11|27|50|59|79|88|94
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |12|26|40|50|67|85|93
Bury St. Edmunds
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |0 |1 |5 |9 |30|48|76
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |1 |10|21|34|55|76|88
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |9 |22|41|54|74|84|92
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |8 |27|46|60|78|85|90
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |9 |29|47|61|79|85|93
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |7 |24|43|62|77|85|93
Cardiff
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |2 |6 |14|28|55|72|87
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |1 |7 |18|28|54|71|86
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |4 |14|29|45|65|72|86
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |5 |18|32|45|68|80|93
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |8 |28|44|56|81|93|97
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |22|37|54|63|78|85|88
Leeds
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |1 |3 |15|37|71|81|91
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |3 |15|33|50|75|89|96
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |5 |26|49|66|87|94|97
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |2 |11|32|64|80|88|94
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |4 |22|41|58|79|86|90
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |4 |29|47|61|87|95|97
London North
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |1 |3 |15|26|49|61|77
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |1 |6 |13|25|47|62|78
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |5 |19|31|44|65|75|85
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |4 |15|26|36|49|79|91
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |10|26|41|54|71|83|90
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |7 |20|33|46|60|79|88
London South
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |0 |2 |7 |12|39|59|77
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |3 |8 |20|34|58|73|85
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |5 |14|29|44|63|75|83
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |6 |18|34|48|69|79|89
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |6 |19|37|51|68|79|88
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |7 |19|35|49|67|76|83
Manchester
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |1 |4 |8 |13|32|66|81
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |2 |10|21|41|60|82|93
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |6 |21|42|56|78|89|94
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |4 |18|49|63|83|91|96
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |2 |14|37|52|68|75|84
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |3 |23|51|66|82|89|93
Newcastle
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |0 |2 |2 |5 |18|47|74
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |1 |6 |21|35|54|72|85
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |3 |13|27|40|67|81|91
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |8 |24|38|51|76|87|94
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |10|24|39|52|65|74|83
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |6 |15|25|34|48|80|97
Nottingham
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |3 |13|27|38|55|71|83
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |4 |14|35|48|64|78|93
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |3 |20|34|44|62|70|94
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |8 |28|47|59|79|88|93
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |5 |31|48|66|85|91|94
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |3 |20|38|51|73|88|94
Southampton
1 April 1991 to 15 October 1991 |2 |5 |16|30|60|78|90
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 |3 |9 |24|44|68|81|89
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 |3 |18|40|56|78|88|95
1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 |3 |16|41|59|79|91|95
1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 |7 |28|51|65|86|92|97
1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 |6 |30|58|70|86|92|97
Column 225
Low Pay
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of female part-time workers in Great Britain in April and the proportions with hourly earnings, excluding overtime pay, of less than (a) £3.40, (b) £3.70, (c) £4.92 and (d) £5.15, respectively.
Mr. Jackson : There were an estimated 4,575,000 part-time female employees in employment in Great Britain in March 1991.
The estimated percentages of part-time adult female employees earning below specified amounts, excluding overtime, in the new earnings survey sample in April 1991 were :
£ |Per cent. ------------------------------ 3.40 |38.8 3.60 |45.8 3.80 |52.9 4.80 |74.7 5.40 |81.7
Estimates of the percentages earning below £3.70, £4.92 and £5.15 are not available ; the nearest available figures have been given. The figures relate to employees on adult rates whose earnings for the survey period were not affected by absence.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the names and whereabouts of establishments prosecuted for breaching wages council legislation in 1990 and 1991, and in each case (a) the type and number of offences they committed, (b) the number of employees affected and (c) the penalties placed on employers.
Mr. Forth : The information requested is in the tables :
Column 225
Prosecutions under sections 16, 19, and 21 of the Wages Act 1986
1990 |Number and type of offences |Number of |Penalties placed on
|workers |employers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burger House, Maidstone |2-Failure to pay at least the |One |£600 fine, £345 costs,
| statutory minimum rate, | £1280 arrears
| keeping false records
G. S. Fruit, Sheffield |3-Failure to pay at least the |Two |£450 fine, £150 costs
| statutory minimum rate,
| keeping false records
One Stop Foods, Leeds |2-Failure to pay at least the |Two |£100 fine, £150 costs,
| statutory minimum rate | £443 arrears
Pavilions Kebab House, |1-Failure to produce records |- |£400 fine, £69 costs
Buxton
Post Office Stores, Avening |2-Failure to pay at least the |One |£50 fine, £1,128 arrears
| statutory minimum rate,
| keeping false records
Terry's Hair Fashion, |3-Failure to pay at least the |One |£225 fine, £50 costs,
Swanley | statutory minimum rate, | £150 arrears
failure to keep records,
failure to post notices
Truss Self-Service, |3-Failure to pay at least the |Two |£150 fine, £200 costs,
Aldershot | statutory minimum rate, | £1,277 arrears
| keeping false records
Weardale Hotel, |1-Failure to produce records |- |£100, fine, £70 costs
Spennymoor
Westons, Barrow in |4-Failure to pay at least the |Four |£160 fine, £400 costs,
Furness | statutory minimum rate | £100 arrears
£ |Per cent --------------------------- 3.40 |39.0 3.60 |45.0 3.80 |50.9 4.80 |67.3 5.40 |73.1
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of male part-time workers in Great Britain in April and the proportions with hourly earnings, excluding overtime pay, of less than (a) £3.40, (b) £3.70, (c) £4.92 and (d) £5.15, respectively.
Mr. Jackson : There were an estimated 969,000 part-time male employees in employment in Great Britain in March 1991.
The estimated percentages of part-time adult male employees earning below specified amounts, excluding overtime in the new earnings survey sample in April 1991 were :
£ Per cent
3.40 39.0
3.60 45.0
3.80 50.9
4.80 67.3
5.40 73.1
Column 228
Estimates of the percentages earning below £3.70, £4.92 and £5.15 are not available ; the nearest available figures have been given. The figures relate to employees on adult rates whose earnings for the survey period were not affected by absence.Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish tables in the Official Report showing the proportions of manual, non-manual and all full-time employees earning less than (a) £138.74, (b) £185.00 and (c) £193.60 per week excluding overtime payments, for (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) both sexes by standard economic region for Great Britain as a whole and for Northern Ireland.
Mr. Jackson : The information available from the April 1991 new earnings survey closest to that requested is given in the table, for the regions of Great Britain. Comparable information for Northern Ireland is not available.
Column 227
(a) (i) Percentage of full time men on adult rates with weekly earnings excluding overtime
less than:
Manual Non Manual All
|>£130 |>£140 |>£130 |£140 |>£130 |>£140
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |4.0 |6.0 |1.2 |1.8 |2.1 |3.2
South East |4.5 |7.1 |1.6 |2.5 |2.7 |4.2
East Anglia |5.8 |9.8 |3.7 |6.0 |4.7 |7.9
South West |8.8 |13.6 |2.7 |4.6 |5.4 |8.7
West Midlands |7.2 |11.1 |3.8 |5.4 |5.6 |8.3
East Midlands |7.5 |11.9 |3.4 |4.9 |5.6 |8.6
Yorkshire and Humberside |7.7 |12.5 |4.1 |6.0 |6.1 |9.5
North West |7.8 |11.4 |3.5 |5.2 |5.6 |8.2
Northern |8.1 |11.3 |4.3 |6.0 |6.4 |9.0
Wales |8.6 |13.7 |4.4 |6.1 |6.7 |10.2
Scotland |9.2 |13.7 |3.7 |5.7 |6.5 |9.8
Great Britain |7.0 |10.8 |2.8 |4.3 |4.8 |7.3
Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Source: New Earnings Survey (pay not affected by absence).
Note: "n/a" denotes information not available.
(a) (ii) Percentage of full time women on adult rates with
weekly earnings excluding overtime less than:
April 1991
Manual Non Manual All
|<£130|<£140|<£130|<£140|<£130|<£140
--------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |19.1 |25.5 |2.4 |3.9 |4.4 |6.4
South East |26.2 |34.7 |4.8 |7.6 |7.8 |11.4
East Anglia |40.5 |51.3 |13.6 |19.8 |19.2 |26.3
South West |43.7 |54.4 |12.7 |18.3 |18.0 |24.4
West Midlands |42.2 |52.1 |13.4 |19.6 |19.8 |26.8
East Midlands |44.1 |54.5 |13.5 |18.6 |21.7 |28.2
York and Humberside |46.3 |57.6 |14.7 |21.5 |21.6 |29.3
North West |41.3 |51.7 |13.2 |18.7 |18.5 |25.0
Northern |44.0 |53.1 |16.3 |22.4 |22.5 |29.2
Wales |40.9 |53.8 |16.7 |21.4 |22.2 |28.8
Scotland |42.1 |52.8 |14.0 |19.4 |19.7 |26.2
Great Britain |38.3 |48.3 |10.5 |15.1 |15.6 |21.2
Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Source: New Earnings Survey (pay not affected by absence)
Note: "n/a" denotes information not available
(a) (iii) Percentage of full time employees on adult rates with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than:
April 1991
Manual Non Manual All
|<£130 |<£140 |<£130 |<£140 |<£130 |<£140
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |6.8 |9.6 |1.7 |2.8 |3.0 |4.4
South East |8.5 |12.2 |3.0 |4.8 |4.6 |6.9
East Anglia |11.4 |16.6 |7.9 |11.9 |9.4 |13.8
South West |14.7 |20.6 |7.2 |10.8 |9.9 |14.2
West Midlands |13.4 |18.4 |8.2 |11.8 |10.4 |14.6
East Midlands |14.9 |20.5 |7.9 |11.0 |11.0 |15.2
York and Humberside |14.1 |20.0 |9.0 |13.1 |11.2 |16.1
North West |13.7 |18.5 |8.0 |11.5 |10.2 |14.2
Northern |14.1 |18.4 |10.0 |13.7 |11.8 |15.8
Wales |14.5 |21.0 |10.2 |13.3 |12.0 |16.6
Scotland |15.4 |21.1 |8.7 |12.3 |11.3 |15.8
Great Britain |12.6 |17.6 |6.3 |9.2 |8.6 |12.2
Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
(b)(i) Percentage of full time men on adult rates with weekly
earnings excluding overtime less than:
April 1991
Manual Non Manual All
|<£180|<£190|<£180|<£190|<£180|<£190
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |19.9 |24.5 |6.0 |7.4 |10.4 |12.9
South East |24.9 |30.6 |8.2 |9.8 |14.3 |17.5
East Anglia |36.1 |42.0 |14.6 |17.5 |25.4 |29.8
South West |39.7 |46.6 |13.2 |15.5 |25.1 |29.5
West Midlands |34.1 |40.5 |14.8 |17.3 |24.8 |29.3
East Midlands |34.9 |42.4 |14.7 |18.0 |25.4 |31.0
Yorkshire and Humberside |36.9 |42.9 |15.8 |18.9 |27.2 |31.8
North West |34.5 |40.9 |14.8 |16.9 |24.4 |28.6
Northern |32.2 |39.9 |15.3 |17.7 |24.7 |30.0
Wales |38.1 |45.9 |15.9 |18.4 |28.0 |33.4
Scotland |39.4 |46.6 |14.4 |17.1 |27.1 |32.1
Great Britain |33.1 |39.7 |12.1 |14.4 |21.9 |26.1
Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Source: New Earnings Survey (pay not affected by absence).
Note: "n/a" Denotes information not available.
(b)(ii) Percentage of full time women on adult rates with
weekly earnings excluding overtime less than:
April 1991
Manual Non manual All
|<£180|<£190|<£180|<£190|<£180|<£190
--------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |53.9 |60.7 |13.1 |17.0 |17.9 |22.1
South East |65.3 |71.0 |23.4 |28.0 |29.3 |34.1
East Anglia |83.6 |87.5 |47.8 |52.8 |55.2 |59.9
South West |83.6 |87.9 |44.5 |49.9 |51.1 |56.3
West Midlands |83.7 |88.1 |47.4 |53.1 |55.4 |60.8
East Midlands |86.4 |89.2 |45.5 |50.7 |56.4 |61.0
York and Humberside |84.3 |88.8 |46.5 |51.5 |54.6 |59.6
North West |81.2 |84.8 |44.7 |50.5 |51.6 |57.0
Northern |79.2 |82.9 |49.8 |56.1 |56.3 |62.0
Wales |82.8 |85.7 |46.2 |52.7 |54.6 |60.3
Scotland |83.3 |87.3 |45.5 |50.8 |53.2 |58.2
Great Britain |78.3 |82.6 |37.4 |42.6 |45.0 |50.0
Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Source: New Earnings Survey (pay not affected by absence).
Note: "n/a" denotes information not available.
(b) (iii) Percentage of full time employees on adult rates with
weekly earnings ecluding overtime less than:
April 1991
Manual Non Manual All
|<£180|<£190|<£180|<£190|<£180|<£190
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |26.2 |31.3 |9.2 |11.7 |13.3 |16.4
South East |32.4 |38.1 |15.0 |18.0 |19.9 |23.7
East Anglia |43.8 |49.4 |28.9 |32.7 |34.9 |39.5
South West |47.1 |53.6 |27.3 |31.0 |34.2 |39.0
West Midlands |42.9 |49.0 |29.6 |33.5 |35.2 |40.0
East Midlands |45.3 |51.8 |28.3 |32.4 |35.8 |41.0
Yorkshire and Humberside |44.8 |50.5 |29.9 |33.8 |36.3 |41.0
North West |42.7 |48.7 |28.7 |32.5 |34.0 |38.7
Northern |40.1 |47.1 |31.5 |35.8 |35.3 |40.8
Wales |46.2 |53.2 |30.1 |34.5 |37.1 |42.7
Scotland |47.6 |54.3 |29.5 |33.4 |36.7 |41.7
Great Britain |41.3 |47.4 |23.6 |27.2 |30.1 |34.6
Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Source: New Earnings Survey (pay not affected by absence)
Note: "n/a" denotes information not available
(c) (i) Percentage of full time men on adult rates with weekly
earnings excluding overtime less than:
April 1991
Manual Non Manual All
|<£190|<£200|<£190|<£200|<£190|<£200
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |24.5 |29.0 |7.4 |9.1 |12.9 |15.4
South East |30.6 |36.1 |9.8 |11.9 |17.5 |20.8
East Anglia |42.0 |48.9 |17.5 |20.3 |29.8 |34.7
South West |46.6 |52.6 |15.5 |18.0 |29.5 |33.6
West Midlands |40.5 |46.9 |17.3 |19.9 |29.3 |33.9
East Midlands |42.4 |49.3 |18.0 |20.7 |31.0 |35.9
Yorkshire and Humberside |42.9 |49.7 |18.9 |21.9 |31.8 |36.9
North West |40.9 |47.0 |16.9 |19.6 |28.6 |32.9
Northern |39.9 |45.9 |17.7 |20.0 |30.0 |34.4
Wales |45.9 |52.3 |18.4 |21.6 |33.4 |38.4
Scotland |46.6 |52.4 |17.1 |20.1 |32.1 |36.5
Great Britain |39.7 |45.8 |14.4 |16.8 |26.1 |30.3
Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Source: New Earnings Survey (pay not affected by absence).
Note: "n/a" denotes information not available.
(c) (ii) Percentage of full time women on adult rates with weekly
earnings excluding overtime less than:
April 1991
Manual Non Manual All
|<£190|<£200|<£190|<£200|<£190|<£200
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |60.7 |66.8 |17.0 |21.2 |22.1 |26.5
South East |71.0 |75.5 |28.0 |32.9 |34.1 |38.9
East Anglia |87.5 |89.1 |52.8 |57.3 |59.9 |63.8
South West |87.9 |90.6 |49.9 |55.5 |56.3 |61.5
West Midlands |88.1 |90.3 |53.1 |57.2 |60.8 |64.6
East Midlands |89.2 |90.9 |50.7 |55.9 |61.0 |65.2
Yorkshire and Humberside |88.8 |92.2 |51.5 |56.2 |59.6 |63.9
North West |84.8 |88.8 |50.5 |55.5 |57.0 |61.8
Northern |82.9 |85.7 |56.1 |60.1 |62.0 |65.8
Wales |85.7 |87.4 |52.7 |57.0 |60.3 |64.0
Scotland |87.3 |91.0 |50.8 |55.7 |58.2 |62.8
Great Britain |82.6 |85.9 |42.6 |47.4 |50.0 |54.5
Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Source: New Earnings Survey (pay not affected by absence).
Note: "n/a" denotes information not available.
Column 233
(c) (iii) Percentage of full time employees on adult rates
with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than:
April 1991
Manual Non Manual All
|<£190|<£200|<£190|<£200|<£190|<£200
--------------------------------------------------------------
Greater London |31.3 |36.0 |11.7 |14.5 |16.4 |19.7
South East |38.1 |43.4 |18.0 |21.3 |23.7 |27.6
East Anglia |49.4 |55.5 |32.7 |36.2 |39.5 |44.0
South West |53.6 |59.0 |31.0 |35.0 |39.0 |43.4
West Midlands |49.0 |54.6 |33.5 |36.8 |40.0 |44.2
East Midlands |51.8 |57.7 |32.4 |36.2 |41.0 |45.7
York and Humberside |50.5 |56.7 |33.8 |37.6 |41.0 |45.8
North West |48.7 |54.3 |32.5 |36.3 |38.7 |43.1
Northern |47.1 |52.6 |35.8 |38.8 |40.8 |45.0
Wales |53.2 |58.7 |34.5 |38.3 |42.7 |47.2
Scotland |54.3 |59.7 |33.4 |37.3 |41.7 |46.2
Great Britain |47.4 |53.0 |27.2 |30.7 |34.6 |38.9
Northern Ireland |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
Source: New Earnings Survey (pay not affected by absence)
Note: "n/a" denotes information not available
Construction Industry
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of people unemployed in the construction industry sector in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales.
Mr. Jackson : It is estimated from the labour force survey that in the spring of 1990 the numbers of unemployed people, on the internationally recommended ILO definition, whose previous employment had been in the construction industry were as follows :
|Number
-------------------------
Scotland |19,000
England |122,000
Wales |18,000
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next plans to meet representatives of the construction industry training board ; what matters he intends to discuss ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : I meet the chairman of the Construction Industry Training Board from time to time to discuss the board's operations. Our next such meeting is scheduled to take place in early November.
Small Firms
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest information on growth and competitiveness in the small firms sector.
Mr. Forth : At the end of 1986 there were an estimated 2.5 million businesses in the United Kingdom ; at the end of 1989 there were almost 3 million. The overwhelming majority of these were small ; around 95 per cent. employing fewer than 20 people. This growth has continued : in the latest year, 1990, there was a net increase of almost 1,000 a week in the number of businesses registered for VAT. Small firms continue to make a major contribution to employment growth. Between 1985 and 1989, firms employing fewer than 20 people created over 1 million additional jobs, more than twice as many as larger firms.
The small firms sector continues to improve the competitive edge of the economy by maximising the range of choice available to consumers and by challenging the dominance of existing market leaders.
Column 234
Unemployed Young People
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his public statement of9 October referring to relative standards of training for unemployed young people, he will state the name and origin of the study he referred to and name those aspects which found United Kingdom arrangements superior to those of Germany.
Mr. Jackson : The report in question is entitled "Youth and Work : Transition to Employment in England and Germany" and was published on 25 September by the Anglo-German Foundation for the Study of Industrial Society. While the report does not conclude that one system is superior to the other, it highlights the many strengths of youth training in England and thereby gives the lie to those who choose to denigrate the skills of young people in this country.
Food Industry
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of people employed in the food industry for each year since 1977.
Mr. Jackson : The Department's estimates of employment are categorised according to the 1980 standard industrial classification. The number of employees in employment in food manufacturing industries in Great Britain were as follows :
Great Britain |Thousands ------------------------------------------ June 1977 |559.3 June 1978 |554.1 June 1979 |553.6 June 1980 |544.4 June 1981 |514.8 June 1982 |494.3 June 1983 |465.9 June 1984 |454.3 June 1985 |455.8 June 1986 |447.5 June 1987 |449.5 June 1988 |444.3 June 1989 |439.7 June 1990 |436.6 June 1991 |427.0
Column 235
Youth Training
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps he has taken to correct the discrimination in the new system of unauthorised absences from youth training trainees against young people who have previously truanted from school and may have difficulty in adjusting to youth training ;
(2) if he will outline the aims behind the new system of unauthorised absences of youth training trainees.
Mr. Jackson : The recording of attendance and abating of payments for unauthorised absence have proved costly and burdensome to youth training and employment training placement and training providers. The Government are currently exploring ways of reducing the administration where trainees are placed with employers. No discrimination is involved. Training and enterprise councils would continue to set the funding for each provider, taking into account all the circumstances, including the difficulties of providers recruiting trainees who have previously truanted from school.
Farm Workers
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what advice he will give farm workers about the protective clothing to wear and the use of storage of this clothing between dipping seasons.
Mr. Forth : Advice on appropriate protective clothing is given on the label and/or data sheet of individual products. Additionally, information on the use of protective clothing and the precautions to be observed under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 when sheep dipping is given in the free leaflet "Sheep Dipping : Protect Your Health" published by the Health and Safety Executive on 16 September 1991, and available from its local offices.
Guidance on the storage and maintenance of protective clothing is given in the joint HSE/MAFF publication "Pesticides : Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Holdings" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Unit Labour Costs
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage change in unit labour costs in (a) Britain and (b) Germany in the last 12 months.
Mr. Jackson : Unit wage costs in mining and manufacturing in the former Federal Republic of Germany rose by 3 per cent. in the year to the second quarter of 1991, which is the latest available information. In the same period unit wage costs in manufacturing in the United Kingdom rose by 11 per cent.
Jobshare
Mr. Latham : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for the future of the jobshare scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : The Government remain keen to encourage labour force flexibility, and the Department recently issued a guide for employers setting out the benefits of a flexible approach to working arrangements.
Column 236
Research has shown, however, that employers are introducing measures such as jobsharing without the need for continuing financial inducement from public funds. The low current take-up of the scheme suggests that it is not now fulfilling a useful purpose and we have therefore decided to close it for new applications on 31 December 1991.AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Milk Marketing Board
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what are the terms of reference of the appointed members of the milk marketing board ;
(2) how many appointed members there are on the milk marketing board ;
(3) if he will list the dates of appointments of each of the appointed members of the milk marketing board ; and what is the duration of each appointment.
Mr. Gummer : Under the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958, members of the milk marketing board appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales are required in their opinion to be qualified for appointment as having had experience and shown capacity in commerce, finance, administration, public affairs or the organisation of workers, or as being specially conversant with the interests of consumers of milk. There are no formal terms of reference for their appointment.
Appointments are for three years and may be renewed. The current members and their dates of first appointment are as follows :
|Date
-----------------------------------------------------
Mr. John Williams |1 September 1984
Mrs. Fiona Gilmore |1 November 1988
Mr. Paul Judge |18 November 1989
I have arranged for copies of news releases giving their biographical details to be deposited in the Library of the House.
Fisheries
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to introduce legislation in the United Kingdom to implement the United Nations resolution 44/225 on banning large-scale drift nets.
Mr. Gummer : No present drift netting in the United Kingdom is covered by United Nations resolution 44/225. The United Kingdom Government strongly support the resolution which would prevent the use of large scale drift nets in all high seas areas from mid 1992 unless sound management procedures are in place. However, the Government wish to go further than this, and have therefore backed the European Commission's proposal which would prevent the development of large scale drift netting by any EC vessel, not only on the high seas, but in the adjacent waters within fishery limits. With 85 boats from several different EC member states, against the few from the United Kingdom, being involved in the fishery which would be affected by the Commission's proposal, it is clear that decisions must be made on a common EC basis, not unilaterally.
Column 237
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 23 July, what is the role of his observer on the Cornish fishing trip in respect of giving advice to the skippers of the vessels about the use of large-scale drift nets.Mr. Gummer : None of the nets used on the Cornish fishing trips were large scale drift nets, which have done so much harm when used indiscriminately in the south Pacific. The role of the MAFF observers was to provide reports on the new fishing operation. The fishermen themselves voluntarily limited the length of their nets.
Irrigation Guidance
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken for the reprinting of his Department's leaflet entitled "Good Irrigation Practice, Make Every Drop Count," to enable it to reach every licence holder in England and Wales ; whether a new leaflet will be printed for 1992 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : We are presently assessing, with the National Rivers Authority and other interests, the effectiveness of the water shortage early warning system introduced for abstraction licence holders in East Anglia this season. In the light of this we shall discuss with the authority the extension of the system, and the good irrigation practice leaflet explaining it, beyond the East Anglian region next year.
Badgers
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badgers have been killed in connection with the campaign against bovine tuberculosis in each year from 1986 to 1990 and so far in 1991 ; what has been the cost annually of this campaign ; and what proposals he has to continue it.
Mr. Maclean : The number of badgers killed as part of official badger removal operations in 1986 to 1990 were as follows :
|Number
---------------------
1986 |782
1987 |711
1988 |788
1989 |727
1990 |811
A total of 771 have been killed so far in 1991.
These figures compare with an estimated total badger population of some 350,000, of which it is thought that over 20,000 are killed each year in road accidents.
The annual cost of badger control is approximately £439,000 out of total expenditure of some £13,430,728 on bovine tuberculosis. The possibility of using a live test on badgers is being examined.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the total number of BSE cases confirmed in each calendar month in 1991.
Column 238
Mr. Gummer : The information up to 11 October 1991 is as follows :
County |Cases
-----------------------------------------------
England:
Northern
Cleveland |45
Cumbria |781
Durham |133
Humberside |167
Northumberland |151
Tyne and Wear |5
North Yorkshire |1,380
South Yorkshire |118
West Yorkshire |178
|---
Total |2,958
|---
Midlands and Western
Cheshire |1,130
Derbyshire |583
Herefordshire and Worcestershire |674
Lancashire |857
Leicestershire |865
Manchester |35
Merseyside |19
Nottinghamshire |215
Shropshire |854
Staffordshire |724
West Midlands |21
Warwickshire |375
|---
Total |6,352
|---
Eastern
Bedfordshire |101
Cambridge |128
Essex |162
Hertfordshire |147
Lincolnshire |294
Norfolk |640
Northamptonshire |325
Suffolk |422
|---
Total |2,219
|---
South-East
Berkshire |220
Buckinghamshire |328
Hampshire |1,305
Isle of Wight |256
Kent |722
London |21
Oxfordshire |562
Surrey |319
East Sussex |491
West Sussex |884
|---
Total |5,108
|---
South-West
Avon |783
Cornwall |2,818
Devon |4,019
Dorset |3,092
Gloucestershire |1,041
Somerset |3,419
Wiltshire |2,231
|---
Total |17,403
|---
Wales:
Clwyd |446
Dyfed |1,669
Mid Glamorgan |80
South Glamorgan |95
West Glamorgan |17
Gwent |266
Gwynedd |101
Powys |338
|---
Total |3,012
|---
Scotland:
South
Borders |64
Central |34
Dumfries |256
Lothian |25
Strathclyde |315
North
Fife |75
Grampian |227
Highland |62
Orkney |11
Shetland |3
Tayside |100
Western Isles |1
|---
Total |1,173
|---
Northern Ireland:
Antrim |79
Armagh |19
Down |50
Fermanagh |24
Londonderry |32
Tyrone |49
|---
Total |253
Column 240
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total number of confirmed cases of BSE in each county or Scottish region at the latest available date in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Gummer : The number of confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom listed by month of onset of clinical signs from January 1991 to March 1991 is as follows. More recent information is not available for the reason given in my reply to the hon. Member on 23 May 1991 at column 559.
Month |Number ---------------------------- January 1991 |1,675 February 1991 |1,632 March 1991 |1,797
Tenanted Land
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of hectares and percentage for tenanted agricultural land in each county or Scottish region of the United Kingdom for 1980 and for the current year.
Mr. Gummer : The table gives the number of hectares and percentage for tenanted agricultural land for each county of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and for each region in Scotland for 1980 and 1990, the latest year for which data are available. However, it should be noted that Northern Ireland's land tenure system is not generally comparable with that of Great Britain.
Column 239
England and Wales
1980 1990
County |Total area |Percentage |Area of |Total area |Percentage |Area of
|(000 hectares)|of total |land rented |(000 hectares)|of total |land rented
|area rented |(000 hectares) |area rented |(000 hectares)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cleveland |31.7 |43.9 |13.9 |30.2 |36.8 |11.1
Cumbria |465.4 |45.3 |210.9 |458.7 |39.2 |179.6
Durham |159.5 |52.0 |82.9 |155.7 |42.9 |66.7
Northumberland |383.3 |59.9 |229.7 |381.8 |55.5 |211.8
Tyne and Wear |18.3 |62.2 |11.4 |16.6 |51.6 |8.6
Humberside |292.8 |48.6 |142.3 |287.6 |40.7 |117.1
North Yorkshire |628.7 |48.5 |304.7 |629.8 |41.6 |261.7
South Yorkshire |83.1 |52.7 |43.8 |81.5 |45.9 |37.4
West Yorkshire |99.7 |46.7 |46.6 |101.3 |40.8 |41.3
Derbyshire |187.0 |47.9 |89.5 |182.5 |43.1 |78.7
Leicestershire |198.7 |45.9 |91.2 |197.1 |40.1 |79.0
Lincolnshire |514.5 |52.1 |268.2 |517.8 |45.6 |236.0
Northamptonshire |191.8 |45.0 |86.4 |188.3 |36.3 |68.4
Nottinghamshire |151.4 |43.2 |65.4 |150.8 |36.8 |55.4
Cambridgeshire |290.5 |51.1 |148.5 |285.9 |45.2 |129.1
Norfolk |419.3 |46.1 |193.3 |421.8 |39.0 |164.6
Suffolk |303.7 |31.3 |95.2 |303.2 |26.1 |79.3
Bedfordshire |92.0 |44.4 |40.8 |91.1 |37.9 |34.5
Berkshire |75.4 |38.9 |29.4 |73.0 |27.7 |20.2
Buckinghamshire |134.2 |40.8 |54.7 |129.6 |33.4 |43.3
East Sussex |117.3 |35.3 |41.4 |115.1 |29.9 |34.4
Essex |269.9 |37.9 |102.4 |267.1 |33.9 |90.6
Greater London |16.9 |59.1 |10.0 |15.5 |52.9 |8.2
Hampshire |227.2 |41.9 |95.1 |229.3 |35.7 |81.9
Hertfordshire |106.3 |44.4 |47.2 |106.2 |37.4 |39.7
Isle of Wight |26.5 |44.0 |11.7 |26.2 |26.6 |7.0
Kent |260.6 |36.7 |95.7 |253.7 |33.2 |84.3
Oxfordshire |208.8 |41.6 |86.9 |205.3 |36.0 |73.8
Surrey |70.9 |36.3 |25.8 |69.9 |30.3 |21.2
West Sussex |128.4 |47.3 |60.7 |127.0 |38.0 |48.3
Avon |88.5 |41.1 |36.4 |86.3 |35.2 |30.4
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly |280.6 |38.8 |108.9 |275.8 |32.5 |89.6
Devon |519.6 |30.3 |157.6 |514.0 |25.8 |132.4
Dorset |199.5 |45.6 |90.9 |198.3 |40.1 |79.5
Gloucestershire |205.2 |35.3 |72.5 |204.6 |30.5 |62.5
Somerset |280.4 |37.5 |105.2 |276.6 |29.1 |80.6
Wiltshire |275.8 |42.7 |117.7 |269.5 |37.9 |102.0
Hereford and Worcester |317.0 |35.1 |111.3 |314.6 |28.9 |90.9
Shropshire |287.1 |38.6 |110.7 |288.7 |32.2 |92.9
Staffordshire |199.2 |40.5 |80.6 |198.0 |32.7 |64.7
Warwickshire |159.2 |38.5 |61.3 |156.2 |32.7 |51.1
West Midlands |19.7 |53.3 |10.5 |16.6 |44.2 |7.3
Cheshire |172.4 |44.6 |76.9 |168.2 |37.3 |62.7
Greater Manchester |41.8 |56.3 |23.5 |42.1 |43.3 |18.2
Lancashire |222.2 |53.5 |118.9 |221.7 |47.1 |104.5
Merseyside |19.9 |57.8 |11.5 |20.3 |51.9 |10.5
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
England |9,442.0 |43.6 |4,120.3 |9,351.0 |37.4 |3,493.1
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Clwyd |177.7 |33.4 |59.3 |179.1 |28.3 |50.6
Dyfed |458.7 |23.5 |107.9 |457.9 |18.2 |83.2
Gwent |84.1 |31.1 |26.2 |82.5 |24.9 |20.5
Gwynedd |292.2 |37.3 |108.9 |296.6 |30.3 |89.9
Mid Glamorgan |50.8 |37.4 |19.0 |49.0 |31.6 |15.5
Powys |366.0 |28.1 |103.0 |367.3 |22.5 |82.5
South Glamorgan |24.8 |42.0 |10.4 |24.8 |38.5 |9.5
West Glamorgan |36.4 |30.6 |11.1 |36.0 |26.0 |9.4
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Wales |1,490.8 |29.9 |445.7 |1,493.2 |24.2 |361.1
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
England and Wales |10,932.8 |41.8 |4,566.0 |10,844.2 |35.5 |3,854.3
Note: Estimates for minor holdings are not included.
Source: June 1980 and 1990 MAFF PSM Statements.
Scotland
1980 1990
|Total area |Percentage of|Area of land |Total area |Percentage of|Area of land
Region |000 hectares |Total area |Rented |000 hectares |Total area |Rented
|rented |000 hectares |rented |000 hectares
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borders |395.3 |52.1 |205.9 |386.4 |51.5 |199.0
Central |208.8 |43.4 |90.5 |197.1 |40.1 |79.0
Dumfries and Galloway |470.3 |47.6 |223.8 |443.2 |43.3 |191.9
Fife |98.1 |41.7 |40.9 |98.2 |33.9 |33.3
Grampian |634.9 |39.8 |252.5 |627.9 |38.2 |240.0
Highland |1,780.1 |38.5 |685.3 |1,689.1 |35.1 |592.1
Lothian |131.8 |44.1 |58.1 |125.0 |37.8 |47.2
Strathclyde |1,017.9 |40.2 |409.6 |918.5 |36.4 |334.0
Tayside |642.1 |46.5 |298.8 |621.1 |42.7 |265.0
Islands |200.2 |48.1 |96.3 |194.0 |43.4 |84.1
-------
Scotland |5,579.4 |42.3 |2,361.8 |5,300.3 |39.0 |2,065.7
Notes:
Source: June 1980 and 1990 Agricultural Census for Scotland.
The area of rented land in the Western Isles in 1980 has been estimated.
Estimates for minor holdings are not included.
1980 1990
|Total area |Percentage of|Area of land |Total area |Percentage of|Area of land
|000 hectares |Total area |rented |000 hectares |Total area |rented
|rented |000 hectares |rented |000 hectares
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Britain |16,512.2 |42.0 |6,927.8 |16,144.5 |36.7 |5,920.0
1980 1990
County Total area
'000 hectares Percentage of total area rented Area of land rented '000 hectares Total area
'000 hectares Percentage of total area rented Area of land rented '000 hectares
Antrim 217.9 19.9 43.4 211.6 21.8 46.1
Armagh 99.0 17.5 17.4 93.7 19.1 17.9
Down 187.3 23.9 44.7 176.8 26.6 47.0
Fermanagh 131.7 15.1 19.8 125.7 16.0 20.1
Londonderry 163.5 20.4 33.3 157.4 23.1 36.3
Column 243
Northern Ireland
1980 1990
County |Total area |Percentage of|Area of land |Total area |Percentage of|Area of land
|total area |rented |total area |rented
|'000 hectares|rented |'000 hectares|'000 hectares|rented |'000 hectares
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antrim |217.9 |19.9 |43.4 |211.6 |21.8 |46.1
Armagh |99.0 |17.5 |17.4 |93.7 |19.1 |17.9
Down |187.3 |23.9 |44.7 |176.8 |26.6 |47.0
Fermanagh |131.7 |15.1 |19.8 |125.7 |16.0 |20.1
Londonderry |163.5 |20.4 |33.3 |157.4 |23.1 |36.3
Tyrone |254.9 |15.0 |38.2 |248.3 |16.7 |41.4
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Northern Ireland |1,054.3 |18.7 |196.8 |1,013.6 |20.6 |208.8
Notes:
Source: June 1980 and 1990 Agricultural Census for Northern Ireland. Separate statistics are not collected on the
numbers and areas of the farms which are leased; the figures above are for agricultural land which is let on a
very short-term basis, commonly for 11 months ("in conacre").
General Note: Totals may not necessarily agree with the sum of their components due to rounding.
Farm Animal Welfare Council
Mr. Speller : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the members of the Farm Animal Welfare Council and their agricultural credentials.
Mr. Maclean : The Farm Animal Welfare Council's function is to keep under review the welfare of farm animals and to advise the Agriculture Ministers of any legislative or other changes that may be necessary. Its membership therefore comprises farmers, veterinarians, including a poultry practitioner, animal welfarists, scientists, consumerists and others, in order to provide broadly-based, sound advice. A list of its members and their particular expertise is as follows :--
Professor C. R. W. Spedding CBE (Chairman) : Formerly Professor of Agricultural Systems and Director of the Centre for Agricultural Strategy, and Pro-Vice Chancellor, of Reading University. Chairman of UKROFS and Apple and Pear Research Council.
Mr. C. B. Atkinson : Auctioneer and farmer.
Mr. R. H. Baker : Dairy farmer, Chairman of NFU Animal Health and Welfare Committee.
Dr. M. Baxter : Research Scientist, Scottish Agricultural College, Centre for Rural Building.
Mr. G. Berry : Chartered Secretary responsible for enforcement of animal health and welfare legislation. Member of National Animal Health and Welfare Panel.
Rev. A. L. Birbeck, MBE : Non-stipendiary Church of England priest and management consultant.
Dr. W. J. M. Black : Farms Director and Senior Lecturer in Agriculture at Edinburgh University.
Professor D. Broom : Professor of Animal Welfare at University of Cambridge.
Mr. J. A. R. Dewhirst : Farmer (pigs and cattle). Member of British Pig Association's Producers Committee and NFU Pigs Committee.
Mr. T Harris : Livestock exporter, with practical farming experience.
Mrs. F. F. Hodgson : Managing Director, interior design company. Former Secretary of Animal Welfare Committee of National Council of Women.
Mr. C. Hollands : Animal welfarist. Member of the Home Office Annual Procedures Committee.
Mr. O Jones, MBE : Farmer and abattoir owner.
Mr. R. Macpherson : Farmer and Veterinary Surgeon.
Miss C. A. Milburn : Animal Welfarist. Secretary of Humane Education Council.
Dr. M. Pattison : Poultry practitioner and Veterinary and Technical Services Manager, Sun Valley Poultry Ltd.
Mr. F. E. Shields, MBE : General Secretary and Treasurer of National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs. Has practical farming experience.
Mr. P. F. Staines : Farmer (pigs and calves for beef) and partner in farm buildings company.
Mr. J. G. Thomas : Farmer and Director of feed analysis company. Mr. A. Watkins : Farmer (beef, sheep, cereals, potatoes). Professor A. J. F. Webster : Professor of animal husbandry at Bristol University.
Mrs. T Wickham : Director of Corporate Affairs, Safeway plc. Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society.
| Next Section
| Home Page |