| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. McLoughlin : The overall indicator for job clubs is the degree to which they improve unemployed people's
Column 174
chances of finding work. Our most recent survey (1989), found that attending a job club increased an individual's chance of finding a full-time job by about 50 per cent. Information is also collected monthly to measure the performance of individual job clubs. This includes the number of entrants to the programme and the number of job placings. Information on costs is collected quarterly.Pay Levels
22. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she last met representatives of the Low Pay Unit to discuss average pay levels in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : There has been no meeting with the Low Pay Unit.
TECs
23. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the contribution of the training and enterprise councils covering Surrey in helping those out of work.
Mr. McLoughlin : Surrey TEC has developed a range of innovative approaches to help people get back into work. This is true of TECs up and down the country.
24. Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures she is taking to meet the concerns which have been expressed by TECs.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply given earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Milligan).
Careers Service
27. Mr. Pope : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations she has received regarding the future of the careers service.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Following public consultations on the future of the careers service in spring 1991, my right hon. Friend has received representations from local education authorities, training and enterprise councils, the Institute for Careers Guidance, local authority associ-ations and others.
Coal Industry (Health and Safety)
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of the reasons for the increse in the death and injury rate in the coal mining industry for the years 1987-88 and 1989-90.
Mr. McLoughlin : Any increase in accident rates is of concern, but it is not appropriate to compare two years in isolation. A relatively small change in the number of accidents can disproportionately effect accident rates.
The British Coal "all accident rate" for 1990-91 of 29.34 per 100, 000 manshifts is the lowest ever recorded and this is the clearest indication of the continuing progress in reducing accidents achieved by British Coal in co-operation with the workforce, worker's representatives and the Health and Safety Executive's mines inspectorate.
Column 175
Pesticides
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 19 November, Official Report, column 337, when she expects the review of the pesticides incident appraisal panel to be complete ; and if she will publish its findings.
Mr. McLoughlin : The review by the Health and Safety Executive of the pesticide incidents appraisal panel is now underway. Details of the findings will be made publicly available, and an interim statement of progress is anticipated by the end of June 1993.
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 19 November, Official Report, column 336 , if she will give the procedural changes undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive in its dealings with the public.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Health and Safety Executive has introduced the following procedural changes relating to its dealings with members of the public :
guidance on the procedure for dealing with complaints has been revised and re-issued to all staff in the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Field Operations Division (FOD) ;
new instructions have been issued to all professional staff in FOD on responsible and considerate relations with private individuals ; and
arrangements have been made to improve the internal organisations of HSE area offices to provide nominated public inquiry officers and duty inspectors.
HSE has also issued two booklets which tell both the general public and the employer about the HSE and about the way its staff go about their work. They explain what the public can expect from HSE and what to do if they are not happy with the way they have been dealt with.
Passenger Congestion
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals her Department has to encourage employers to stagger the work hours of employees as a means of alleviating passenger congestion.
Mr. McLoughlin : None. It is for employers and employees to agree between themselves what patterns of work best suit their needs.
Youth Training
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by reference to what costs to the trainee the youth training allowance is calculated ; and when it was last increased.
Mr. McLoughlin : The minimum weekly allowances paid to young people on youth training are £29.50 for 16-year-olds and £35 for those who are 17 or older. The minimum allowance for 16-year-olds was last increased in July 1988 ; the £35 was set in April 1986.
Many trainees receive more than these minimum allowances because employers are encouraged to supplement payments to trainees. It is in their interests to do this because it helps them to recruit and retain trainees in whom they are investing quality training. A young person who is living at home with their parents should find the allowance adequate for their needs. Young people who find the allowance to be insufficient may be able to obtain additional support by making a claim for income support.
Column 176
Training
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what funds will be made available for further employment training schemes in areas affected by coal mine closures ; and if she will make a statement concerning allocations to Seaham and Easington.
Mr. McLoughlin : A total of £75 million will be made available for additional labour market measures to alleviate the effects of the colliery closures. Final details of the action plan for County Durham training and enterprise council for the Seaham--Vane Tempest--colliery and Easington areas, including the proportion of the £75 million available, have yet to be agreed and will depend on the closures going ahead.
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list all the Government and Government-financed agencies which have provided employment, skills training, or other courses, to job seekers in the Seaham and Peterlee areas during the past five years.
Mr. McLoughlin : County Durham training and enterprise council and formerly the Employment Department's Durham area office have provided training programmes in Seaham and Peterlee areas through a wide range of organisations during the past five years. These are listed. The list also includes other Government Departments and Government supported organisations which have been active in Employment creation and enterprise support in these areas.
1. Training providers in Seaham/Peterlee in last five years Northern Training Trust
Peterlee College
Key Colleges
Easington District Council
Council for Voluntary Services
Easington Unemployment Committee
Seaham and District Adult Training Trust
Seaham Action
2. Training providers based outside Peterlee/Seaham but Operating in these areas
LINK
AC Training
Action Training
ASTRA Training
Sedgefield District Council
3. Other Employment Departments/Government supported organisations
Department of Trade and Industry
Employment Department
Employment Service
County Durham Training and Enterprise Council
The Northern Development Company
East Durham Development Agency
East Durham Task Force
British Coal Enterprise Ltd
English Estates North
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations she has received from organisations within the Easington constituency to increase and improve employment training schemes.
Mr. McLoughlin : I understand that several recent representations relating to employment training provision have been made by Easington organisations to the County Durham training and enterprise council.
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) informations were laid and
Column 177
(b) convictions were obtained under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 in the coal mining industry in each of the last five years ; and what was the average fine.Mr. McLoughlin : The information requested is as follows :
Year |Informations: laid|Convictions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1987 |9 |3 1988 |3 |2 1989 |51 |6 1990 |24 |3 1991 |0 |0
The average fine for the convictions was £1,543.
Ozone Depletion
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will implement a refrigerant recycling and reclaim policy covering all departmental equipment currently using
chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons ; if she will publish targets for departmental reuse and recycling ; if she will implement an equipment conversion and replacement programme for all departmental uses of CFCs and HCFCs ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : It is part of the Department's environmental policy to eliminate where possible the use of toxic or
ozone-depleting chemicals. This is being achieved by replaceing equipment which uses such substances with alternatives which do not contain ozone- depleting chemicals, as and when they are due for replacement. The use by the Department of ozone-depleting chemicals is minimal but we pay due regard to proper disposal methods and are taking steps to ensure that all staff are aware of them.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will introduce a leakage prevention programme for all refrigeration and air conditioning equipment owned and operated by her Department ; if she will publish targets for reductions in leakages ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : Where such systems are a part of properties occupied by the Department they are regularly checked as a part of planned maintenance.
Women
Ms. Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures the Government are taking to improve training and promotion prospects for women.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Government are committed to the improvement of training and promotion prospects for everyone in the labour market. It has welcomed the national education and training targets and the emphasis they place on acquiring skills.
The introduction of the training and enterprise councils (TECs) has meant a training environment which is flexible and geared towards the achievement of vocational qualifications for everyone. The work that has been done on the accreditation of prior learning is particularly helpful to women who are less likely to have achieved vocational qualifications in their working lives.
Column 178
Labour market returners, the majority of whom are women, have and will continue to have special access arrangements within adult training programmes run by TECs. The programmes also provide flexible training that allows women to reconcile their domestic commitments with their training.The Government take every opportunity to encourage employers to make the best use of their resources. This includes supporting the employer-led Opportunity 2000 campaign. We promote the development of people in work through the investors in people initiative, which applies to all people. In addition this year, we have introduced a new national training award that recognises training and development of specific benefit to women.
In the new year, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, intends to launch a series of regional opportunity shops' to promote women's participation in the world of work and beyond.
European Community Social Affairs Council
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what matters will be discussed at the next EC Social Affairs Council ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : At the meeting of the Social Affairs Council on 3 December, among the main items to be considered are the United Kingdom presidency initiatives concerning employment growth ; effective implementation and enforcement of Community legislation ; vocational qualifications ; and the portability of occupational pensions.
A number of other important matters will be on the agenda, including Community instruments on :
free movement of workers :
the posting of sub-contracted workers in the Community ; health and safety in mines and quarries ;
the proposed European Health and Safety Agency ;
action for the disabled.
This agenda will take forward the aim of the United Kingdom presidency of making sensible progress on the business of the Community and of securing a positive social dimension that brings real benefits to the citizens of the Community.
The Council will also discuss the current state of play on the working time directive.
Health and Safety Research
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money was received from the European Commission in respect of health and safety research undertaken for the Commission by the Health and Safety Executive ; who was the recipient of that money in each year since 1990-91 ; and what is the corresponding information for the current year.
Mr. McLoughlin : Money received from the European Commission in each year for research related projects was :
|£000s
--------------------
1990-91 |50
1991-92 |176
1992-93 |100
These receipts were retained by the Health and Safety Executive.
Column 179
Agricultural Inspectors
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the number of agricultural inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive area offices in Scotland in each year since 1978.
Mr. McLoughlin : The number of agricultural inspectors employed in Scotland in each year since 1978 was :
|Number
---------------------
1978 |15
1979 |16
1980 |18
1981 |17
1982 |15
1983 |17
1984 |16
1985 |16
1986 |18
1987 |21
1988 |20
1989 |19
1990 |19
1991 |18
1992 |23
Note: Figures are
for 1 April each
year and show
full-time equivalent
staff.
Health and Safety Executive
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the money allocated to the Health and Safety Executive following the transfer of the offshore safety division was spent in 1991-92 ; and what proportion of it has been spent in 1992-93.
Mr. McLoughlin : Information is not available in the precise form requested. However HSC/E's direct expenditure on its offshore safety division in 1991-92 was £11.5 million ; the forecast for 1992-93 is currently £19.9 million.
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the number of factory inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive area offices in Scotland in each year since 1978.
Mr. McLoughlin : The number of factory inspectors employed in Scotland in each year since 1978 was :
Year |Number --------------------- 1978 |62 1979 |65 1980 |67 1981 |64 1982 |63 1983 |55 1984 |51 1985 |53 1986 |48 1987 |48 1988 |46.5 1989 |46 1990 |49 1991 |50.5 1992 |62.5 Note: Figures are for 1 April each year and show full-time equivalent staff.
Mr. Galbraith:To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the contribution for the Health and Safety Executive to the European Commission in relation
Column 180
to European health and safety directives and standards for each year since 1990-91 ; and what is the contribution for the current year.Mr. McLoughlin : The information is not available in the form requested.
The HSE plays a very active part in the development and negotiation of all health and safety directives and standards at European level.
Employment Prospects
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations she has received about the effect of the autumn statement on future employment prospects.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has not, as yet, received any representations about the effect of the autumn statement on employment prospects. However it is our belief that the series of measures proposed in the autumn statement aimed at rebuilding confidence, helping industry and strengthening the economy will help to boost employment prospects.
Employment Action
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the implementation of the employment action programme.
| Next Section
| Home Page |