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Mr. Mates : At 31 December 1992 there were 13,071 police, and 18, 741 members of the armed forces operating in their support, in Northern Ireland. These manpower levels are kept under constant review.
Widgery Tribunal
11. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will order a re-examination of the findings of the Widgery tribunal.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : No. I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 21 January at col. 483.
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Aldergrove Airport
12. Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals for privatising Aldergrove airport.
Mr. Atkins : On 20 November 1991, my predecessor announced the Government's plans to sell Northern Ireland Airports Limited, the publicly owned company which operates Belfast international airport. Legislation is in hand to give effect to privatisation and a draft order will be published in May of this year. The timetable envisages the order being made early in 1994 with the sale of the company taking place later that year.
Remand Prisoners
13. Mr. A. Cecil Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average detention period being served by remand prisoners in Crumlin Road prison.
Mr. Mates : Figures are not available in the form sought. However the Government are concerned about the length of time some prisoners spend on remand and have introduced a number of measures to deal with the problem, including the target time limits scheme announced by my right hon. and learned Friend on 10 June 1992.
Homelessness
14. Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes to alleviate homelessness in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Atkins : The Housing Executive has statutory responsibility for dealing with homelessness, and arranges both temporary and permanent accommodation throughout Northern Ireland. Its housing selection scheme gives top priority particularly to families accepted as homeless. In addition, the Executive and other local bodies provide extensive advice to those who are homeless, or are threatened with homelessness. I am satisfied that these arrangements are appropriate in dealing with homelessness in Northern Ireland.
Quangos
15. Mr. Clifford Forsythe : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many quasi-autonomous non-governmental bodies existed in Northern Ireland (a) in 1991, (b) in 1992 and (c) at present.
Mr. Mates : In 1991 and 1992 there were 121 non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland and this figure remains unchanged.
Inter-party Discussions
16. Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the present status of the inter-party discussions on the future of Northern Ireland.
Political Initiatives
25. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what new political initiatives he has in respect of Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
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Sir Patrick Mayhew : When the talks ended in November last year, all the participants agreed that further dialogue was both necessary and desirable. Accordingly, every effort is being made to create conditions under which further talks can take place at an early date. To this end, contacts are being maintained with all the participants at various levels.
EC Funding
17. Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding funding of projects in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Mates : My right hon. and learned Friend and ministerial colleagues are in contact with the Commission as and when the interests of Northern Ireland require it. I myself shall be meeting Commissioner Millan next week to discuss support from the Community's structural funds for Northern Ireland during the next round of funding.
Rented Housing
18. Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the number of houses made available for rent in Northern Ireland for each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Atkins : The number of houses made available for rent in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and by registered housing associations is as follows :
13,304 houses in 1982-83 ; 13,972 in 1983-84 ; 13,466 in 1984-85 ; 13,486 in 1985-86 ; 12,701 in 1986-87 ; 11,971 in 1987-88 ; 12,158 in 1988-89 ; 11,559 in 1989-90 ; 14,180 in 1990-91 and 14,269 in 1991-92.
The figures comprise new build completions and relets for both the Housing Executive and registered housing associations except in the case of associations where relet figures are not available prior to 1990-91.
Figures relating to the private rented sector are not available.
Northern Ireland Railways
19. Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the future of Northern Ireland Railways.
Mr. Atkins : The Government have demonstrated their commitment to the future of railways in Northern Ireland through schemes for a cross- harbour rail link in Belfast, the accelerated upgrading of the Belfast to Dublin railway and the provision of a new railway station at Great Victoria street, Belfast.
In addition we are currently examining the consultant's report about the scope for introducing a private element into the management and operation of Northern Ireland Railways.
Labour Statistics
20. Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the level of unemployment in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : I receive representations from time to time from a variety of interested organisations and individuals.
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The Government's economic development strategy for Northern Ireland aims to help industry become more competitive so that it can achieve soundly based growth and provide more good quality jobs. A wide range of assistance is available to this end. Figures released today show that the level of seasonally adjusted unemployment in Northern Ireland remained unchanged (at 107,000) in January and has declined by an average of 200 over the past three months.Security
21. Mr. Sykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were charged with terrorist murders in Northern Ireland in 1992.
Mr. Mates : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend).
23. Mr. Molyneaux : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Mates : I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend).
Small Firms
22. Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next plans to meet representatives of the small firms sector to discuss lifting burdens on business.
Mr. Atkins : I am in regular contact with the business community which enables me to gain its views on all matters affecting the competitiveness of Northern Ireland companies. I will be raising the specific issue of the burden of regulations with key business people over the next few months.
Education
24. Mr. Enright : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received on proposed changes in education.
Mr. Hanley : Representations have been made by the education and library boards, school boards of governers, teachers and their representatives and some parents. I have also met a number of groups on reforms-related matters. They have covered a wide range of issues related to the reforms, but have centered mainly on the pressures on teachers and schools resulting from the curriculum and assessment changes and I have taken measures where necessary to ease the pressures.
Health and Personal Social Services
26. Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Government's regional strategy document for Northern Ireland health and personal social services for 1992 to 1997 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Following the publication in November 1991 of the 1992- 1997 regional strategy each board produced an area strategy which endorsed the priorities
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and targets it contained. Since then the Eastern and Southern boards have undertaken major reviews of the acute hospital services required by their population. They are currently consulting widely on their proposals for the future of these important services before making final decisions.The annual management plan, issued by the HPSS management executive, sets a range of interim objectives and targets based on those in the regional strategy. The boards' purchasing prospectuses in turn reflect the content of the management plan and specify the level of services that boards wish to purchase in pursuit of strategic goals. In addition to those targets which boards can act on immediately, there are a number of objectives and targets in the regional strategy where collaborative work would be of value. The regional strategy advisory group, under the chairmanship of the HPSS chief executive, has been established to take forward work in these areas. The regional strategy also recognises the important role that other government Departments have to play in improving the health and social well -being of the population. An inter-departmental group on health issues has been established under the chairmanship of the permanent secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.
Anglo-Irish Agreement
27. Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect on security co-operation with the Republic of Ireland of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
Mr. Mates : Since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, there have been significant enhancements in cross border security co-operation, and the Government will continue to work closely with the Government of the Republic to achieve further improvements. Both Governments recognise the importance of keeping existing measures under review and making further progress whenever possible.
Unemployment
28. Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he proposes to take to reduce unemployment in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Atkins : Reducing unemployment in Northern Ireland depends on the achievement of higher levels of economic growth and on Northern Ireland industry becoming more internationally competitive. The main features of the Government's strategy to achieve this include identifying and removing obstacles to growth ; encouraging inward investment ; building up management and work force skills ; developing an enterprise culture and supporting innovation and research and development. Help is available in each of these areas for activities which will improve business performance.
Miscarriages of Justice
29. Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider setting up an independent body in Northern Ireland to consider cases of miscarriages of justice.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice is currently examining the arrangements
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in England and Wales for considering and investigating alleged miscarriages of justice when appeal rights have been exhausted. When the Royal Commission's recommendations are made known I shall give careful consideration to what application they may have in the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.Constitutional Discussions
30. Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Ireland about constitutional matters ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North East (Mr. Barnes).
Disabled Employees
Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of employees in his Department are registered disabled.
Mr. Mates : There are no registered disabled staff in the small cadre of home civil servants employed in the Northern Ireland Office.
On 13 January 1993, 1.6 per cent. of the Northern Ireland civil service (NICS) were registered disabled. In addition, 60 registered disabled people were working in the NICS under the sheltered placement scheme.
Contracting Out
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide figures for the reduction in numbers of posts as a result of contracting out since 1979 in his Department and agencies for which he has responsibility.
Mr. Mates : Including the Northern Ireland Departments, 575 full- time and 434 part-time posts have been contracted out.
English Teaching
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the teaching of English in the schools of the Province.
Mr. Hanley : The teaching of English in schools in Northern Ireland is now based on the programmes of study for English which reflect the best practice in our classrooms. These give appropriate prominence to the teaching of grammar, spelling and writing and promote from the earliest years reading for pleasure and information from a wide variety of texts. The Northern Ireland Curriculum Council has set in place arrangements to monitor the introduction of the new programmes of study and these will be reviewed and updated as necessary in the light of the council's findings.
Fair Employment Act
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the certificates that have been issued by him under section 42 of the Fair Employment Act 1976 in the past 10 years, indicating the person or body the
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certificate related to and whether the certificate was issued on the ground of (a) national security, (b) public safety or (c) public order.Mr. Atkins : In the past 10 years 18 section 42 certificates have been signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Seven cases involved either the Northern Ireland Office or Northern Ireland Departments while the other 11 involved public bodies in Northern Ireland.
Information on the ground on which each certificate was issued is not available in the form requested.
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have received advice from the Fair Employment Commission under section 29(1) of the Fair Employment Act 1976.
Mr. Atkins : A total of 2,041 from 1 January 1990 until 31 January 1993.
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been refused assistance under section 29(2) of the Fair Employment Act 1976 by the Fair Employment Commission, showing in each case the perceived religious affiliation of those refused and the grounds on which assistance was refused.
Mr. Atkins : During the period 1 January 1990 until 31 January 1993 assistance or further assistance under section 29(2) has been refusesd to 47 persons, of whom 33 were Roman Catholic and 14 were Protestant. Assistance was refused where (i) the investigation of the complaint had revealed no sustainable case, (ii) assistance to pursue the complaint would have conflicted with the commission's statutory functions, (iii) the complainant failed to co-operate or keep in contact with the commission or (iv) the complainant had approached the commission at such an advanced stage that the giving of assistance was impracticable. It is not appropriate to state the grounds on which such refusal was based in individual instances.
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have received assistance from the Fair Employment Commission under section 29(2) of the Fair Employment Act 1976.
Mr. Atkins : A total of 768 from 1 January 1990 until 31 January 1993.
Mr. Seamus McElwaine
Mr. Maginnis : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the terrorist activities of Seamus McElwaine and the circumstances of his death.
Mr. Mates [holding answer 1 February 1993] : The circumstances surrounding the death of Seamus McElwaine in an encounter with the security forces on 26 April 1986 near Rosslea, County Fermanagh, were investigated by the police. The Director of Public Prosecutions considered the police investigation report, and directed no prosectuion of any of the soldiers involved. Following the inquest held on 11-12 January 1993 the director has asked for a further report from the police in light of the inquest jury's findings. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment further.
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EMPLOYMENT
TECs
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the budget for each of the training and enterprise councils in 1992-93 ; and what the budget will be for each TEC for 1993-94.
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Mr. McLoughlin : Details of TEC budgets for 1992-93 are given in the tables. The £2.1 billion planned expenditure for programmes operated by TECs and LECs is over £100 million more than was spent in 1991-92.
The information for TEC budgets for 1993-94 is not yet available. We are currently in negotiations with TECs on targets and funding for 1993-94.
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TEC budgets 1992-93£ million
|Total |YT and credits |WRFE |Compacts |EBPs |TPS |Careers partners |Careers libraries |Employ training ex.|HTNT |Employ action ex. |Business enterprise|LIF |National devel |Research |Youth devel project|TEC MGMT fee
|allows |allows |support |project
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Essex |32.95 |16.02 |2.87 |0.00 |0.03 |0.07 |0.03 |0.12 |7.79 |0.25 |2.03 |2.69 |0.98 |0.06 |0.00 |0.01 |2.54
Hampshire |32.06 |17.54 |3.49 |0.04 |0.03 |0.07 |0.03 |0.17 |5.37 |0.34 |0.93 |3.12 |0.88 |0.05 |0.00 |0.00 |2.07
Heart of England |10.86 |5.70 |0.88 |0.04 |0.03 |0.03 |0.03 |0.07 |1.74 |0.05 |0.36 |1.20 |0.61 |0.12 |0.00 |0.00 |1.32
Hertfordshire |23.02 |13.19 |1.87 |0.00 |0.03 |0.05 |0.00 |0.13 |3.06 |0.40 |0.56 |3.00 |0.35 |0.38 |0.00 |0.00 |1.79
Isle of Wight |3.66 |1.86 |0.30 |0.00 |0.03 |0.01 |0.00 |0.02 |0.55 |0.00 |0.26 |0.49 |0.06 |0.06 |0.00 |0.02 |0.60
Kent |33.08 |18.00 |2.84 |0.00 |0.03 |0.07 |0.02 |0.18 |5.27 |0.55 |1.90 |2.75 |1.27 |0.18 |0.00 |0.02 |2.05
Milton Keynes/
North Bucks |7.19 |3.99 |0.39 |0.00 |0.03 |0.01 |0.00 |0.02 |1.23 |0.00 |0.35 |0.76 |0.35 |0.06 |0.00 |0.00 |0.85
Surrey |12.38 |4.40 |1.84 |0.00 |0.03 |0.05 |0.03 |0.12 |1.50 |0.53 |0.33 |1.85 |0.78 |0.92 |0.00 |0.00 |1.45
Sussex |25.10 |11.26 |2.26 |0.02 |0.06 |0.06 |0.04 |0.21 |5.05 |0.26 |0.96 |3.98 |0.93 |0.01 |0.00 |0.00 |2.06
Thames Valley Enterprise |18.93 |9.23 |2.70 |0.03 |0.05 |0.06 |0.00 |0.13 |2.09 |0.30 |0.89 |2.40 |0.90 |0.15 |0.00 |0.00 |2.28
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
South East Total |199.23 |101.19 |19.44 |0.13 |0.35 |0.48 |0.18 |1.17 |33.65 |2.68 |8.57 |22.24 |7.11 |1.99 |0.00 |0.05 |17.01
AZTEC |10.55 |3.62 |1.36 |0.10 |0.02 |0.02 |0.00 |0.07 |1.65 |0.85 |0.87 |1.46 |0.34 |0.19 |0.00 |0.00 |1.18
CENTEC |21.48 |6.54 |1.35 |0.10 |0.02 |0.03 |0.04 |0.07 |6.59 |0.39 |1.44 |4.18 |0.70 |0.03 |0.00 |0.00 |2.76
CILNTEC |20.46 |7.25 |1.37 |0.20 |0.01 |0.01 |0.04 |0.04 |5.93 |0.16 |1.33 |2.82 |1.11 |0.19 |0.00 |0.00 |2.16
LETEC |32.66 |12.54 |3.07 |0.15 |0.05 |0.05 |0.08 |0.12 |9.80 |0.52 |2.70 |2.75 |0.71 |0.12 |0.00 |0.00 |3.24
North London |16.94 |4.14 |1.89 |0.10 |0.03 |0.03 |0.00 |0.08 |4.99 |0.86 |1.35 |2.56 |0.58 |0.32 |0.01 |0.00 |1.98
North West London |8.74 |2.46 |1.66 |0.06 |0.01 |0.02 |0.00 |0.04 |2.83 |0.00 |0.00 |1.34 |0.28 |0.01 |0.03 |0.00 |1.29
SOLOTEC |18.15 |9.09 |1.84 |0.02 |0.03 |0.03 |0.00 |0.10 |3.30 |0.10 |0.82 |1.98 |0.58 |0.26 |0.00 |0.00 |1.97
South Thames |30.18 |9.15 |2.82 |0.20 |0.03 |0.04 |0.04 |0.10 |9.13 |1.14 |2.63 |3.36 |1.17 |0.37 |0.00 |0.00 |2.74
West London |15.39 |6.56 |2.17 |0.00 |0.08 |0.03 |0.04 |0.08 |2.52 |0.86 |0.00 |1.92 |0.85 |0.18 |0.10 |0.00 |1.88
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
London Total |174.55 |61.35 |17.35 |0.93 |0.28 |0.26 |0.24 |0.70 |46.74 |4.88 |11.14 |22.37 |6.32 |1.67 |0.14 |0.00 |19.20
Avon |26.35 |11.81 |1.65 |0.10 |0.03 |0.04 |0.04 |0.11 |6.12 |0.63 |1.25 |3.60 |0.70 |0.27 |0.00 |0.00 |2.49
Devon/Cornwall |48.61 |26.31 |3.40 |0.10 |0.05 |0.06 |0.04 |0.18 |9.00 |0.17 |2.07 |5.44 |1.62 |0.17 |0.00 |0.00 |3.86
Dorset |15.15 |7.30 |1.19 |0.02 |0.02 |0.03 |0.04 |0.08 |2.33 |0.58 |0.67 |2.10 |0.49 |0.30 |0.00 |0.00 |1.38
Gloucestershire |12.71 |6.58 |1.00 |0.03 |0.02 |0.03 |0.01 |0.07 |2.00 |0.10 |0.44 |1.80 |0.39 |0.24 |0.00 |0.00 |1.21
Somerset |12.57 |6.39 |1.19 |0.00 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.05 |2.10 |0.21 |0.50 |1.80 |0.20 |0.07 |0.00 |0.00 |1.18
Wiltshire |13.45 |6.76 |1.29 |0.00 |0.02 |0.03 |0.02 |0.07 |2.13 |0.12 |0.43 |1.90 |0.45 |0.23 |0.00 |0.00 |1.21
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
South West Total |128.84 |65.15 |9.72 |0.25 |0.16 |0.21 |0.17 |0.56 |23.68 |1.81 |5.36 |16.64 |3.85 |1.28 |0.00 |0.00 |11.33
Birmingham |46.97 |20.64 |2.38 |0.10 |0.02 |0.05 |0.04 |0.12 |15.61 |0.87 |2.12 |3.91 |0.59 |0.48 |0.00 |0.04 |2.80
Central England |10.65 |5.11 |0.95 |0.05 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.05 |1.82 |0.07 |0.89 |1.36 |0.29 |0.00 |0.00 |0.00 |1.06
Coventry/Warwickshire |23.50 |11.86 |1.76 |0.10 |0.04 |0.04 |0.04 |0.11 |4.95 |0.36 |1.10 |2.65 |0.33 |0.15 |0.01 |0.00 |1.88
Dudley |10.71 |5.20 |0.76 |0.10 |0.02 |0.01 |0.04 |0.04 |2.51 |0.12 |0.48 |0.97 |0.26 |0.17 |0.00 |0.03 |1.01
HAWTEC |10.83 |5.47 |0.80 |0.00 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.07 |1.84 |0.08 |0.49 |1.53 |0.34 |0.15 |0.00 |0.00 |0.98
Sandwell |10.91 |5.46 |0.64 |0.00 |0.02 |0.02 |0.00 |0.04 |2.63 |0.10 |0.60 |1.01 |0.30 |0.08 |0.01 |0.00 |1.08
Shropshire |13.53 |7.66 |0.86 |0.10 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.08 |2.41 |0.08 |0.46 |1.43 |0.28 |0.11 |0.00 |0.00 |1.15
Staffordshire |33.39 |20.57 |2.02 |0.00 |0.02 |0.05 |0.03 |0.14 |5.38 |0.38 |0.95 |3.17 |0.62 |0.06 |0.00 |0.00 |2.21
Walsall |9.05 |4.32 |0.52 |0.10 |0.02 |0.01 |0.00 |0.03 |2.31 |0.00 |0.50 |0.87 |0.26 |0.11 |0.00 |0.00 |0.94
Wolverhampton |11.03 |5.24 |0.61 |0.10 |0.02 |0.02 |0.00 |0.03 |2.50 |0.26 |0.60 |1.00 |0.49 |0.16 |0.00 |0.00 |1.09
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
West Midlands Total |180.57 |91.53 |11.30 |0.65 |0.22 |0.26 |0.21 |0.71 |41.96 |2.32 |8.19 |17.90 |3.76 |1.47 |0.02 |0.07 |14.20
Bedfordshire |10.77 |5.30 |1.10 |0.00 |0.03 |0.03 |0.03 |0.08 |1.51 |0.66 |0.56 |1.11 |0.36 |0.00 |0.00 |0.00 |0.95
CAMBSTEC |5.59 |2.64 |0.63 |0.03 |0.02 |0.02 |0.00 |0.06 |0.64 |0.05 |0.33 |0.88 |0.23 |0.03 |0.00 |0.03 |0.78
North Derbyshire |9.66 |5.09 |0.73 |0.00 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.05 |2.21 |0.09 |0.00 |1.11 |0.26 |0.06 |0.00 |0.00 |0.92
South Derbyshire |17.08 |8.63 |1.16 |0.10 |0.02 |0.03 |0.02 |0.08 |3.89 |0.14 |0.57 |1.75 |0.58 |0.11 |0.00 |0.00 |1.25
Leicestershire |24.39 |13.34 |1.57 |0.10 |0.03 |0.04 |0.03 |0.14 |4.02 |0.38 |0.73 |2.90 |0.79 |0.32 |0.00 |0.00 |1.82
Lincolnshire |19.20 |10.19 |1.22 |0.00 |0.02 |0.02 |0.03 |0.08 |3.71 |0.15 |1.41 |1.95 |0.28 |0.10 |0.00 |0.04 |1.50
Norfolk/Waveney |20.96 |10.73 |1.65 |0.00 |0.03 |0.04 |0.03 |0.11 |4.82 |0.00 |0.75 |2.16 |0.64 |0.00 |0.00 |0.00 |1.61
Northamptonshire |12.53 |6.75 |1.17 |0.00 |0.03 |0.03 |0.00 |0.10 |1.69 |0.09 |0.54 |1.60 |0.53 |0.00 |0.00 |0.00 |1.23
Greater Nottinghamshire |19.60 |9.66 |1.40 |0.02 |0.02 |0.03 |0.04 |0.89 |4.11 |0.32 |0.92 |1.80 |0.34 |0.03 |0.00 |0.00 |1.38
North Nottinghamshire |16.01 |7.37 |0.76 |0.00 |0.02 |0.02 |0.04 |0.07 |5.39 |0.00 |0.45 |1.46 |0.32 |0.11 |0.00 |0.00 |1.11
Greater
Peterborough |8.38 |4.50 |0.68 |0.05 |0.01 |0.01 |0.00 |0.04 |1.77 |0.00 |0.45 |0.60 |0.27 |0.00 |0.00 |0.00 |0.92
Suffolk |14.34 |9.53 |0.75 |0.05 |0.03 |0.03 |0.03 |0.08 |1.66 |0.00 |0.45 |1.36 |0.37 |0.00 |0.00 |0.00 |1.20
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
East Midlands Total |178.51 |93.73 |12.82 |0.35 |0.28 |0.32 |0.27 |1.78 |35.42 |1.88 |7.16 |18.68 |4.97 |0.76 |0.00 |0.07 |14.67
Barnsley/Doncaster |23.38 |12.90 |0.90 |0.20 |0.03 |0.03 |0.04 |0.10 |5.50 |0.70 |0.90 |1.50 |0.50 |0.08 |0.00 |0.00 |1.70
Bradford and District |19.25 |10.60 |0.80 |0.10 |0.02 |0.03 |0.00 |0.10 |4.20 |0.10 |0.70 |1.80 |0.50 |0.30 |0.00 |0.00 |1.50
Calderdale/Kirklees |19.89 |9.70 |1.30 |0.10 |0.03 |0.03 |0.03 |0.10 |5.00 |0.20 |0.80 |2.00 |0.40 |0.20 |0.00 |0.00 |1.50
Humberside |35.07 |17.90 |1.60 |0.10 |0.02 |0.05 |0.00 |0.10 |8.50 |1.00 |1.40 |3.20 |1.00 |0.20 |0.00 |0.00 |2.70
Leeds |19.34 |8.80 |1.30 |0.00 |0.02 |0.02 |0.00 |0.10 |5.20 |0.70 |0.00 |2.30 |0.70 |0.20 |0.00 |0.00 |2.00
North Yorkshire |16.16 |8.00 |1.50 |0.00 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.10 |3.20 |0.10 |0.30 |2.20 |0.60 |0.10 |0.00 |0.00 |1.40
Rotherham |11.44 |5.60 |0.50 |0.10 |0.02 |0.02 |0.00 |0.10 |2.70 |0.40 |0.40 |1.10 |0.40 |0.10 |0.00 |0.00 |1.10
Sheffield |21.28 |9.50 |1.40 |0.10 |0.02 |0.03 |0.03 |0.10 |6.20 |0.80 |0.00 |2.20 |0.70 |0.20 |0.00 |0.00 |2.10
Wakefield |11.24 |5.30 |0.60 |0.00 |0.02 |0.02 |0.00 |0.10 |3.00 |0.20 |0.50 |1.20 |0.20 |0.10 |0.00 |0.00 |1.30
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Yorkshire and
Humberside Total |177.05 |88.30 |9.90 |0.70 |0.20 |0.25 |0.12 |0.90 |43.50 |4.20 |5.00 |17.50 |5.00 |1.48 |0.00 |0.00 |15.30
Bolton/Bury |13.40 |6.88 |1.03 |0.10 |0.02 |0.02 |0.03 |0.05 |2.12 |0.21 |0.71 |1.53 |0.27 |0.45 |0.00 |0.00 |0.97
Manchester |35.82 |16.41 |2.59 |0.20 |0.04 |0.06 |0.05 |0.13 |8.71 |0.85 |1.68 |4.32 |0.45 |0.34 |0.00 |0.00 |3.50
METROTEC |10.45 |5.31 |0.73 |0.10 |0.01 |0.02 |0.03 |0.03 |2.18 |0.20 |0.43 |1.15 |0.25 |0.01 |0.00 |0.00 |0.84
Oldham |8.43 |4.83 |0.41 |0.10 |0.01 |0.01 |0.03 |0.02 |1.54 |0.07 |0.29 |0.78 |0.27 |0.06 |0.00 |0.00 |0.76
Rochdale |8.13 |3.77 |0.53 |0.10 |0.01 |0.01 |0.03 |0.02 |2.13 |0.00 |0.45 |0.74 |0.27 |0.06 |0.00 |0.00 |0.74
South and East Cheshire |12.02 |6.48 |0.68 |0.02 |0.01 |0.01 |0.02 |0.03 |1.92 |0.06 |0.70 |1.36 |0.27 |0.45 |0.01 |0.00 |0.81
Stockport |9.51 |4.73 |0.67 |0.02 |0.01 |0.02 |0.04 |0.04 |1.59 |0.13 |0.23 |1.52 |0.34 |0.17 |0.00 |0.00 |0.96
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
North West (GM) Total |97.77 |48.41 |6.63 |0.64 |0.12 |0.15 |0.21 |0.33 |20.20 |1.52 |4.49 |11.40 |2.12 |1.54 |0.01 |0.00 |8.59
CEWTEC |19.31 |9.46 |0.99 |0.10 |0.02 |0.03 |0.00 |0.06 |4.98 |0.40 |0.52 |2.40 |0.27 |0.08 |0.00 |0.00 |1.65
Cumbria |16.24 |9.65 |0.77 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.03 |0.07 |2.39 |0.30 |0.66 |1.60 |0.30 |0.41 |0.00 |0.00 |1.44
ELTEC |17.52 |9.31 |1.61 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.07 |3.45 |0.00 |0.46 |1.89 |0.30 |0.33 |0.02 |0.00 |1.28
LAWTEC |26.30 |12.79 |2.39 |0.10 |0.03 |0.04 |0.02 |0.10 |4.89 |1.26 |1.19 |2.76 |0.44 |0.26 |0.03 |0.00 |2.05
Merseyside |47.40 |22.75 |2.21 |0.30 |0.04 |0.05 |0.00 |0.11 |13.19 |0.51 |3.03 |4.30 |0.41 |0.50 |0.00 |0.00 |3.60
NORMID |13.30 |7.17 |0.96 |0.10 |0.02 |0.02 |0.02 |0.05 |2.71 |0.00 |0.34 |1.45 |0.72 |0.19 |0.00 |0.00 |1.27
QUALITEC |9.05 |5.07 |0.42 |0.10 |0.01 |0.01 |0.03 |0.02 |1.95 |0.06 |0.41 |0.62 |0.27 |0.08 |0.00 |0.00 |0.78
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
North West (W) Total |129.81 |76.20 |9.35 |0.74 |0.16 |0.19 |0.12 |0.48 |33.56 |2.53 |6.61 |15.02 |2.26 |1.85 |0.05 |0.00 |12.07
Durham |27.55 |12.99 |1.05 |0.05 |0.02 |0.03 |0.03 |0.09 |8.45 |0.36 |0.49 |2.48 |1.33 |0.12 |0.00 |0.06 |2.54
Northumberland |13.93 |7.75 |0.41 |0.00 |0.01 |0.01 |0.02 |0.05 |2.89 |0.00 |0.68 |1.30 |0.35 |0.46 |0.00 |0.00 |1.35
Teeside |30.65 |15.66 |1.02 |0.10 |0.02 |0.03 |0.00 |0.09 |9.18 |0.33 |1.29 |2.38 |0.44 |0.11 |0.00 |0.00 |2.83
Tyneside |37.37 |17.04 |1.48 |0.40 |0.04 |0.05 |0.06 |0.11 |10.71 |0.79 |1.64 |3.49 |1.00 |0.43 |0.00 |0.13 |3.08
Wearside |16.89 |7.35 |0.73 |0.10 |0.01 |0.01 |0.01 |0.05 |5.17 |0.65 |0.82 |1.29 |0.52 |0.18 |0.00 |0.00 |1.58
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Northern Total |126.39 |60.79 |4.69 |0.65 |0.10 |0.13 |0.12 |0.39 |36.40 |2.13 |4.92 |10.94 |3.64 |1.30 |0.00 |0.19 |11.38
Industrial Tribunals
Ms. Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases were brought before industrial tribunals in each year since 1979 under (a) the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978, provisions relating to (1) unfair dismissal, (2) redundancy pay, (3) contract of employment, (4) trade union activities and (5) other provisions, (b) the Equal Pay Act 1970, (c) the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, (d) the Race Relations Act 1976, (e) the Employment Act 1980, (f) the Employment Act 1988 and (g) the Wages Act 1986 and (h) the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.
Mr. McLoughlin : The following tables show the information available on applications in Great Britain. Before 1 April 1985 the information was collected in
Column 338
calendar years. Since then it has been collected in financial years. The industrial tribunals do not currently have the jurisdiction to hear contract of employment claims.
Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978
|Unfair dismissal|Redundancy pay |Trade union |EPCA others
|activities
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92 |40,403 |8,505 |775 |2,043
1990-91 |25,525 |4,575 |849 |1,563
1989-90 |19,846 |3,203 |470 |1,627
1988-89 |19,336 |2,431 |387 |1,636
1987-88 |19,911 |2,674 |550 |1,692
1986-87 |25,298 |3,236 |5,213 |1,733
1985-86 |25,718 |3,732 |917 |1,736
<1>1985 |7,186 |865 |183 |426
1984 |30,326 |3,685 |N/a |3,526
1983 |31,541 |3,778 |N/a |2,213
1982 |34,960 |3,898 |N/a |2,601
1981 |37,398 |3,713 |N/a |2,514
1980 |33,585 |4,303 |N/a |2,206
1979 |35,255 |2,366 |N/a |2,255
<1>January-March.
Column 337
|EqPA |SDA |RRA |EA80 |EA88 |WA |TUPE
--------------------------------------------------------
1991-92 |887 |2,684|1,375|1 |11 |9,691|17
1990-91 |612 |1,936|1,178|10 |15 |6,237|32
1989-90 |1,195|1,029|1,084|19 |212 |5,416|20
1988-89 |583 |903 |1,025|11 |- |2,628|14
1987-88 |1,823|679 |762 |8 |- |1,782|7
1986-87 |614 |612 |681 |12 |- |34 |6
1985-86 |1,708|430 |649 |15 |- |- |7
<1>1985 |76 |96 |182 |6 |- |- |-
1984 |350 |376 |2,950|20 |- |- |n/a
1983 |1,258|353 |540 |n/a |- |- |n/a
1982 |788 |406 |550 |n/a |- |- |n/a
1981 |92 |296 |525 |n/a |- |- |n/a
1980 |81 |486 |474 |n/a |- |- |n/a
1979 |191 |277 |622 |n/a |- |- |n/a
<1> January to March.
Note: jurisdiction codes are as follows:
UD-unfiar dismissal,
RP-redundancy payment,
TU Activities-trade union activities,
EPCA Others-other provisions of the Employment
Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978,
EqPA-Equal Pay Act 1970,
SDA-Sex Discrimination Act 1975,
RRA-Race Relations Act 1976,
EA80-Employment Act 1980,
EA88-Employment Act 1988,
WA-Wages Act 1986,
TUPE-Transfer of Undertakings Regulations (Protection
of Employment) Regulations 1981.
n/a denotes that the information is not available.
Wages Councils
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of firms inspected by wages councils in 1990-91 were prosecuted for illegal rates of pay.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : In 1990-91, the time and wage records of 33, 032 employers' establishments were inspected by wages inspectors. The great majority were found to be complying with the law. Of the firms prosecuted, four were prosecuted for failing to pay not less than the statutory minimum remuneration required by wages orders.
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 4 November, Official Report, columns 298-99, which of the studies listed she assesses as showing a positive link between the existence of statutory minimum pay rates and the loss of or failure to create jobs.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The main studies in the United Kingdom which provide supporting evidence are as follows :
--Her Majesty's Treasury, (1985). "The relationship between employment and wages". London : HMSO.
--Wells, W. (1983). "The relative pay and employment of young people", Department of Employment research paper No. 42.
--Bazen, S. (1990). "On the employment effects of introducing a National Minimum Wage in the UK", British Journal of Industrial Relations, 1990.
--Dennison, S. R. and Forrest, D. (1984). "Low pay or no pay ; a review of the theory and practice of minimum wage laws" Institute of Economic Affairs, Hobart Paper No. 101.
--Gregg, P. (1992). "National minimum wage", in the National Institute Economic Review, February 1992.
--Minford, P. (1989). "The effects in the UK of EEC wage proposals in the social charter", in the Liverpool Quarterly Economic Bulletin, December 1989.
--UBS Phillips and Drew (1991). Economic Briefing, June 1991. --Kaufman, R. (1989) : "The effects on statutory minimum rates of pay on employment in Great Britain", Economic Journal, December 1989.
--Morgan, P. Paterson, D. and Barrie, R. (1986). "Wage floors in the clothing industry 1950-81", Department of Employment research paper No. 52.
--Neuburger, H. (1984). "From the dole queue to the sweatshop", London : Low Pay Unit.
There are also other studies in the United Kingdom which contain some supporting evidence, though the results are less clear cut. They include :
Column 340
--Canning, D. and Tarling, R. (1985). "A report on the Department of Employment's study Wages floors in the clothing industry 1950-1981' ", Department of Applied Economics, Cambridge, 1985.--Craig, C. and Wilkinson, F. (1986). "Pay and employment in four retail trades", Department of Employment research paper No. 51. --Lund, P. Morris, T. Temple, J. Watson, J. (1982). "Wages and employment in agriculture 1960- 1980", GES working paper No. 52.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many constituencies in the United Kingdom have higher registered unemployment at the present time than in April 1979.
Mr. McLoughlin : Unemployment data for parliamentary constituencies are available from June 1983 only, and on the unadjusted basis, and can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
Benefit Statistics
Mrs. Adams : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are in receipt of unemployment benefit while working or studying for more than 24 hours per week in the constituency of Paisley, North.
Mr. McLoughlin : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mrs. Irene Adams, dated 18 February 1993 :
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the number of people in receipt of unemployment benefit while working or studying for more than 24 hours per week in the constituency of Paisley North. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
Unfortunately, I am unable to provide the information you have requested as data about the number of people who are in receipt of unemployment benefit while working or studying for more than 24 hours per week is not collated or published.
I am sorry I cannot be of help on this occasion.
As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
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