| Previous Section | Home Page |
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the achievements of her Department and her policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months ; and if she will publish the performance indicators by which her Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance.
Following this year's general election, policy responsibility for some services for new and small businesses has been transferred from this Department to the Department of Trade and Industry. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade detailed the successes of this Department over the last 12 months in helping small businesses in answer to a similar question from my hon. Friend. Measures that continue to be operated by the Department to assist small businesses include business
Column 792
start-up--the enterprise allowance scheme-- which provides an allowance in the early months of trading and on-going support to unemployed people who start their own businesses. The performance of this programme is measured in terms of numbers taking up support and the survival rate of these businesses. From April 1991, training and enterprise councils have been able to adapt the scheme to suit local economic needs. TECs are now placing greater emphasis on increasing the quality of the businesses they support in an effort to improve survival. More than 60,000 people were awarded an allowance in the 1990-91 financial year, and just under 50,000 in 1991-92. Survey evidence has consistently shown that of those people completing the full term of the allowance approximately 76 per cent. are still trading six months later, that is, 18 months after start-up. The Department makes significant funds available to TECs to enable them to support the development of small businesses. TECs provide a varied range of help including consultancy support, advice and guidance and training audits. More than 100,000 businesses were assisted in the 1991-92 financial year. TECs increasingly are linking this support to achievement of the Investors in People national standard. Investors in People sets a standard for the training and development of people--a vital requirement for any business large or small. Of the 67 employers that have met the standard so far, 32 are employers with fewer than 200 employees. There are more than 1,100 employers committed to achieving the standard, including many small businesses.The Department monitors all its programmes and also commissions external evaluations which are published. In May 1992 we published "Small Firms in Britain" which was sent to all Members of Parliament. This report surveys developments in the sector, including key statistical indicators and outlines overall Government policy towards small firms.
Travel-to-work Areas
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the total population covered by each travel-to-work area, together with (a) the numbers unemployed, (b) the percentage unemployed on the broad definition, and (c) the percentage unemployed on the narrow definition, for April 1984, November 1984, April 1990, April 1992 and May 1992, setting out the travel-to-work areas in order of percentage unemployed on the broad definition, and in order of percentage unemployed on the narrow definition for each date.
Mr. McLoughlin : The latest available population data for travel-to- work areas are from the 1981 census of population. These and the other information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the travel-to-work areas covering the 35 per cent. of the United Kingdom population with the highest percentage unemployment using the broad definition on April 1984, November 1984, April 1990, April 1992 and May 1992, distinguishing between those travel-to-work areas covering the top 15 per cent. and those covering the next 20 per cent.
Mr. McLoughlin : The information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
Column 793
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list for the United Kingdom by travel-to- work area, or the smallest area available, the economic activity rate according to the 1981 census data and according to estimates for June 1984, June 1990 and the latest available date.Mr. McLoughlin : The latest available data on economic activity rates for travel-to-work areas are from the 1981 census of population. These can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if she will list the travel-to-work areas covering the 35 per cent. of the United Kingdom population with the lowest percentage of employees in employment as a percentage of the June 1979 figure, with the lowest percentage first, and distinguishing between the 15 per cent. with the lowest percentages and the next 20 per cent. for June 1984, June 1990, June 1991 and the most recent date available ; (2) if she will list for the United Kingdom by travel-to-work area, or the smallest area available the number of employees in employment as a percentage of the number in employment in June 1979, June 1984, June 1990, June 1992 and the most recent date available listing the travel-to-work areas in descending order with the highest percentage first.
Mr. McLoughlin : Information available for employees in employment in local areas, including travel-to-work areas, is from the censuses of employment for 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989, as at September of each of those years. This can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
Quarrymen
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many quarrymen were employed in (a) Wales and (b) Great Britain in (1) 1971, (2) 1981, and (3) 1991, respectively ; and if he will list the quarries operative in Wales in (i) 1971, (ii) 1981 and (iii) 1991.
Mr. McLoughlin : From the 1971 census of population, the number of males in the occupation classification
"surface workers not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.)--mines and quarries"
was 2,200 in Wales and 16,270 in Great Britain. From the 1981 census of population, the number of males under the occupation classification
"Miners (not coal), quarrymen and well drillers"
was 930 in Wales and 15,520 in Great Britain. Occupation data from the 1991 census of population should be available in the first half of 1993. The number of operational quarries in Wales in 1991 has been provisionally estimated by the Central Statistical Office to be 262. No equivalent figures are available for 1971 and 1981.
Employment Agencies
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for new licences were received from employment agencies in April 1992 ; and in what proportion of these cases a licence was offered to the applicant within eight weeks.
Mr. McLoughlin : In April 1992, a total of 376 applications for new licences were received, 86.7 per cent. of which resulted in a licence being offered to the applicant within eight weeks.
Column 794
Work Permits
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for a work permit to employ a non-EC national were received in April ; what proportion of these applications were decided within eight weeks ; and what proportion of applications on behalf of entertainers, sportspeople and models were decided within four weeks.
Mr. McLoughlin : A total of 3,498 applications for work permits were received in April 1992. Of the 3,390 cases processed in that month, 90.3 per cent. had been decided within eight weeks of receipt.
Six hundred and twenty-three of the total applications decided in April 1992 were for entertainers, sportspeople and models ; 85.4 per cent. of these cases were decided within four weeks and 97.4 per cent. within eight weeks of receipt.
This exceeds the Department's published standard of 75 per cent. within eight weeks and was achieved at a time when the section responsible for work permits was in the process of relocating to Sheffield.
Redundancy Payments Service
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what proportion of letters received by the redundancy payments service from members of the public since 1991 have had a reply within five working days ;
(2) what proportion of claims received by the redundancy payments service since 18 November 1991 have been paid within 14 weeks.
Mr. McLoughlin : Since the publication of the redundancy payments service charter in November 1991, 97 per cent. of letters have been replied to within five days, and 84 per cent. of claims have been paid within 14 weeks.
Wages Inspectorate
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints from employees were received by the wages inspectorate in March, April and May 1992 ; and in how many of these cases the inspectorate's investigation was completed within four weeks.
Mr. McLoughlin : The information is as follows :
|Number of |Number of
|complaints received |complaint inspections
|completed within
|four weeks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992
March |121 |79
April |112 |70
May |108 |63
Employees are told the results of investigations into their complaint. If the investigation cannot be completed within four weeks the employee is told about the progress of the investigation.
Noise
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the implementation date of the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 ; what action is taken by
Column 795
the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that employers comply with them ; how many employers have been prosecuted under the regulations for each year since they came into force ; and if she will specify the regulations involved in each case ;(2) what groups are exempt from the requirements of the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 ;
(3) how many employees are estimated by the Health and Safety Executive to be exposed to noise at or above 85 dB(A).
Mr. McLoughlin : The Noise at Work Regulations 1989 came into force on 1 January 1990. Since their introduction, health and safety inspectors have promoted awareness of and compliance with the regulations through widespread advisory and enforcement action. Wide publicity has been achieved through a series of free leaflets and extensive guidance. One employer has been prosecuted for breaches of regulations 4, 8, 9 and 11. In addition, 948 improvement notices and 54 prohibition notices have been issued.
The Health and Safety Executive estimates that about 1.7 million workers are exposed to noise levels above 85 dB(A).
The regulations apply to all workers covered by the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, except the crews of sea-going ships and aircraft or hovercrafts moving under their own power. They do not apply to workers in the offshore industry.
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Health and Safety Executive inspectors are specialists in noise control.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Health and Safety Executive has 12 specialist noise inspectors. They are supported by administrative and research staff with special qualifications in noise. All general Health and Safety Executive inspectors have received training in noise control.
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much revenue has been received from the sale of literature and videos published by the Health and Safety Executive related to the Noise at Work Regulations 1989.
Mr. McLoughlin : Revenue received by the Health and Safety Executive from the sale of publications related to the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 up to 1 July 1992 amounts to approximately £68,000. No videos have been produced by the HSE relating to these regulations.
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how the requirements in the noise directive on audiometry are being implemented in the United Kingdom ;
(2) what measures the Health and Safety Executive has taken to ensure that employees exposed to noise at or above 85 dB(A) know they are entitled to a free hearing test through the national health service.
Mr. McLoughlin : EC directive 86/188/EC on the protection of workers from noise at work requires that workers exposed to 85 dB(A) or more should have access to hearing checks by a doctor. Anyone who is worried about any aspect of his or her health, including his or her hearing, already has access to the full range of NHS services.
Column 796
The Health and Safety Executive has published a free leaflet for employees outlining the main requirements of the regulations and advising them about the risks to hearing of noise at work. The leaflet contains advice to workers to consult their doctor if they think there is something wrong with their hearing. The HSE's noise guide No. 1 also draws attention to employers' responsibilities to provide information and advice to employees.Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans exist in the Health and Safety Executive or European Commission to reduce the first action level of the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 ; and what level is proposed.
Mr. McLoughlin : The European Directive on which the Noise at Work Regulations are based is to be reviewed by 1994. The European Commission is considering a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from physical agents. This would replace the directive on noise and require a revision of the Noise at Work Regulations.
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Executive will update its publication, "100 Practical Solutions of Noise Control at Source".
Mr. McLoughlin : The Health and Safety Executive is currently examining whether a second edition of its publication titled "100 Practical Applications of Noise Reduction Methods" would be useful.
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what noise surveys have been carried out in her Department's buildings, since the enactment of the Noise at Work Regulations 1989.
Mr. McLoughlin : There are nearly 2,000 buildings in the Employment Department group. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Health and Safety
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what legislation her Department is proposing to ensure that workers who exercise their rights under article 8(4) of the framework directive (89/391/EEC) are not disadvantaged.
Mr. McLoughlin : Victimisation of workers who raise safety issues is totally unacceptable. The Government intends to include in a Bill to be introduced later in the current session of Parliament provisions which will go beyond the requirements of article 8(4) of the EC framework directive.
These provisions will include protection for all employees, regardless of length of service or hours of work, against victimisation if they leave their workplace or otherwise take appropriate action in the face of serious and imminent danger.
Safety Directives
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which Minister was responsible at the time (a) the manual handling of loads directive 90/269/EEC, (b) the display screen equipment directive 90/270/EEC,
Column 797
(c) the carcinogens directive 90/394/EEC, (d) the biological agents directive 90/679/EEC, (e) the temporary or mobile construction sites directive and (f) the temporary workers' directive 91/383/EEC were agreed ; how the United Kingdom voted at the meeting the directives were agreed ; and on what date they were agreed.Mr. McLoughlin : The information is as follows :
Directive |Date of adoption -------------------------------------------------------- 90/269/EEC |29 May 1990 90/270/EEC |29 May 1990 90/394/EEC |28 June 1990 90/679/EEC |26 November 1990 91/383/EEC |25 June 1991 Construction sites<1> |24 June 1992 <1> No directive number yet allocated.
All the directives, except 90/394/EEC, were agreed during meetings of the Labour and Social Affairs Council. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who was the then Secretary of State for Employment, represented the United Kingdom at the Councils up to and including 25 June 1991. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment represented the United Kingdom at the 24 June 1992 Council.
Directive 90/394/EEC was adopted at the Telecommunications Council. The United Kingdom was represented by my hon. Friend the Member for Mid- Worcestershire (Mr. Forth), the then Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, acting on advice from Employment Department Ministers in respect of that directive. The proceedings of the Council of Ministers are confidential.
Fertilisers
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what discussions she has had with the Fertiliser Manufacturers Association concerning the safe storage and recording of deliveries of ammonium nitrate and other fertilisers and associated substances which might be used in the making of explosives ;
(2) what instructions or advice she has given to farmers in Great Britain concerning the safe storage and recording of stocks of ammonium nitrate and other fertilisers which might be used in the manufacture of explosives.
Mr. McLouglin : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has not had discussions with the Fertiliser Manufacturers Association or given advice to farmers on these matters.
Earlier this year, a deputy director general of the Health and Safety Executive and other senior officials met representatives of the Fertiliser Manufacturers Association. Their concern over the apparently unsatisfactory storage of some imported ammonium nitrate fertilisers was discussed. As a result, Health and Safety Executive inspectors are making special visits to a number of places, including farms, to examine conditions of storage.
A guidance note on the storage and handling of ammonium nitrate has been published by the Health and Safety Executive. During visits, inspectors are drawing attention to this and other published guidance. A
Column 798
prohibition notice has been issued in one case, where large quantities of ammonium nitrate fertiliser were being imported under unsafe conditions.Working Time Directive
Mr. Jenkin : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what direct consequences for public expenditure would arise if the latest proposed draft of the EC working time directive is implemented in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 13 July 1992] : No directive on working time has been adopted by the EC Council. The Government do not accept the need for such a directive and reserve the right to challenge it, if adopted, in the European Court of Justice. The proposed directive as currently drafted would require member states to implement it within three years of its adoption but does not contain specific requirements on administration and enforcement. It is likely that there would be some administrative costs for public authorities. These cannot be precisely quantified, but would be small compared to the potential cost of compliance for employers, which the Government have previously estimated at about £5 billion. This cost would be substantially reduced as a result of the agreements reached at the Social Affairs Council on 24 June. Any remaining costs of compliance to employers in the public sector cannot yet be estimated. Any effect on public expenditure would depend on the arrangements for financing such costs within the overall framework of public expenditure control.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what account is taken in receipt of the mobility component of the disability living allowance in determining the provision of assistance under the fares-to-work scheme ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 14 July 1992] : When determining grants under the assistance with fares to work--FTW--scheme, the higher and lower rate mobility component of the disability living allowance--DLA--are taken into account in the following ways. Recipients of the higher rate mobility component who are able to drive and use it to resolve their mobility problems by driving themselves do not qualify for the FTW grant. Exceptionally, where a client's car is temporarily unavailable due to servicing or breakdown, they may qualify for the grant on a temporary basis. Other instances when the FTW grant can be made available on a temporary basis to such clients are where they are learner drivers or where they are making arrangements to obtain a car through Motability or another source. Recipients of the higher rate mobility component who are legally barred from driving or medically advised not to drive may be entitled to an FTW grant. The grant, however, would be abated by one third of the mobility component. In all cases where FTW recipients receive the lower rate mobility component, the FTW grant, if payable, is also abated by one third. These abatements carry forward, in respect of DLA, a policy which applied in respect of the mobility allowance and which was designed to avoid double funding. A number of organisations have
Column 799
made representations arguing that the abatement should not apply, and we are considering the points they have made.SOCIAL SECURITY
Household Incomes
Mr. Horam : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) on 8 June, Official Report , column 51 , when in July the next edition of the households below average income statistics will be published.
Mr. Lilley : The new edition of the households below average incomes --HBAI--statistics, covering the years 1979 to 1988-89, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.
In order to improve the statistical accuracy of the results, this edition combines data from the years 1988 and 1989. It also incorporates methodological changes which were the subject of consultation with a range of independent experts in 1991, and takes into account recommendations of the Social Security Select Committee.
Like its predecessors, this edition of HBAI is based on the family expenditure survey, FES. The primary purpose of the FES is to provide data for the construction of the retail prices index. Both its sample size and its method of compilation limit its usefulness as a source of data on family incomes, especially for small sub-groups of the population. Analysts in my Department have sought to overcome these limitations so far as possible--for example, by combining data from two consecutive years to enlarge the sample size--but it has become increasingly clear that the only real solution was to improve the data base itself. I have therefore authorised the establishment of a new family resources survey--FRS--which will in due course replace the FES as the main source of income and expenditure data for DSS purposes. Survey data for the FRS will begin to be collected in October 1992 and will in future years both improve and speed up the preparation of analyses such as the HBAI statistics.
Lodgers
Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the reasons for the different treatment as regards benefits of men and women aged 60 years who take lodgers.
Miss Widdecombe : Differences in treatment could arise from the unequal state pension ages of men and women. The Government are committed to equalising state pension age and are now actively considering how best to achieve this.
Elderly People
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the effects on elderly people receiving income support of the recent letter circulated by the Benefits Agency saying that they will lose their support grant if they fail to give their consent to the agency's requirements ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : The administration of incomes support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the
Column 800
Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.Unemployment Benefits
Sir Malcolm Thornton : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost to public funds of (a) unemployment benefit and (b) related social security benefits paid to the unemployed in the financial year 1991-92.
Mr. Burt : The information for 1991-92 is not yet available. However, the estimated costs are set out in tables 1 and 5 of the second departmental report--"Social Security, The Government's Expenditure Plans 1992-93 to 1994-95", Cm 1914, published in February 1992.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Ms. Abbott : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will amend section 12 of the disability living allowance handbook with regard to the latest scientific knowledge on myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Mr. Scott : The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board, which has been given the function of advising on the topicality and usefulness of the "Disability Handbook", is continuing to monitor the situation with regard to chapter 12 in the Handbook, which deals with myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Unemployment Benefit
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the value of unemployment benefit for a couple with two children aged under 11 years in relation to prices and earnings since 1976.
Mr. Burt : The information is in the table.
---------------------------------------- November 1976 |27.50|90.82|36.0 April 1977<5> |26.50|80.48|33.7 November 1977 |30.30|88.53|36.3 April 1978 |28.20|79.35|31.6 November 1978 |29.20|78.96|30.5 April 1979 |27.20|69.53|26.8 November 1979 |33.35|76.83|29.2 November 1980 |35.90|71.72|26.6 November 1981 |38.00|67.80|25.4 November 1982 |41.05|68.93|25.6 November 1983 |44.05|70.55|25.6 November1984<2> |46.00|70.20|24.5 November 1985 |49.25|71.27|24.7 July 1986 |49.80|70.88|23.6 April 1987 |50.85|69.33|22.7 April 1988 |52.95|69.47|21.5 April 1989 |56.10|68.12|20.8 April 1990 |60.40|67.01|20.4 April 1991 |66.95|69.82|21.0 April 1992 |69.70|69.70|20.7 <1>Over 70 per cent of those registered as unemployed receive income support. <2>Child dependency additions were abolished from 26 November 1984. <3>Benefit has been calculated at April 1992 prices for comparison. <4>Gross average weekly earnings are those of adult males for all occupations (new earnings survey) for the month in question. <5>Child dependency addition for the eldest child was adjusted to take account of child benefit.
Pension Funds
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will take steps to ensure that auditors of pension funds are totally independent of the employer and do not provide other services to the company, its associates or its owner ;
(2) if he will propose legislation under which actuaries of pension funds would be required to obtain independent corroboration of the accuracy of the information on which they base the opting-out certificate for the Occupational Pensions Board ;
(3) what consideration his Department has given to the proposal that the Occupational Pensions Board should have the power to place the assets of a scheme under the control of an approved trustee if it believes that those assets are at risk ;
(4) if he will take steps to ensure that changes in the contributions to pension funds by either employers or employees are quickly notified to each member of the fund ;
(5) if he will extend the responsibilities of the Occupational Pensions Board to include supervision of the training of pension fund trustees ;
(6) if he will introduce legislation to ensure that the advance authority of a majority of the trustees of a pension fund is required before any transaction with the employer, individual trustees or persons connected with them is permitted ;
(7) if he will draw up proposals to establish a pensions tribunal to consider cases of pensions disputes beyond those which are the proper concern of the pensions ombudsman ;
(8) what plans he has to extend the responsiblity, powers and resources of the Occupational Pensions Board ;
(9) if he will draw up proposals under which pension funds trustees who find themselves in the minority on a trust board would have the right to seek independent expert advice ;
(10) if he will draw up proposals under which auditors of pension funds would be required to append a statement to the accounts to the effect that the custody and signing procedures were satisfactory ; (11) if he will draw up proposals to amend pensions legislation to incorporate a practical system of fines and penalties against those who do not comply with the law ;
(12) what plans he has to require pension fund trustees to (a) publish the annual report and accounts of the fund within seven months of the end of the accounting period and (b) file the report and accounts with the Occupational Pensions Board ;
(13) if he will propose legislation under which the
responsibilities of pension fund auditors would be extended to include a review of the trustees' report ;
(14) if he will introduce legislation to restrict the freedom of management of companies to wind up pension schemes prematurely and unilaterally.
| Next Section
| Home Page |