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Where redundancies take place among Astra's staff, whether in Sheffield or elsewhere, the full facilities of the Employment Service are available to help the people concerned find alternative work. The redundancy payments service is already in touch with the receiver to ensure that where redundancies do occur, statutory payments are made as soon as possible.Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what residual obligation his Department has to the staff and trainees currently employed by the collapsed firm Astra.
Miss Widdecombe : As was made clear from the outset, the sale of the Skills Training Agency in 1990 was conducted on a clean-break basis, At the time of the sale, the Government ensured that the staff who transferred to Astra were covered by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations and that Astra and other purchasers provided pension and redundancy rights in line with ministerial undertakings. The Department has no continuing obligation to Astra staff
who were civil servants. The Department's contract with training and enterprise councils requires suitable alternative training to be found for trainees whose training is affected by any closure of a training centre.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to provide training facilities to replace those lost by the collapse of Astra.
Miss Widdecombe : The Department contracts with training and enterprise councils for the delivery of training programmes in their areas. It places a contractual obligation on the TECs, where a training provider closes, to find the trainees concerned suitable alternative training. This provision will come into effect in the event that Astra's receivers close any skillcentres. We understand that skillcentres are continuing to offer services to customers while the trading position
is reviewed.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what protection for the staff employed in the training centres were negotiated with Astra plc when the sale was made.
Miss Widdecombe : The sale of skillcentres to Astra - and other purchasers - in 1990 was governed by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations - TUPE. This meant that those terms and conditions to which staff were entitled and which were covered by TUPE transferred with staff to their new employment. In addition the Government required purchasers to provide pensions broadly comparable to those applying to the civil service terms in force at the date of
sale. These measures prevented changes being made to terms and conditions for reasons due to the transfer itself, but were not agreed in perpetuity.
North Norfolk Action Scheme
Sir Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average amount paid per year for each person involved in the north Norfolk action scheme to each of the providers and the average amount paid to providers nationally in similar schemes.
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Miss Widdecombe : Responsibility for the subject in 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 Sir Ralph Howell, dated 27 July 1993: As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary Question to him about the average amount paid per year for each person involved in North Norfolk Action to each of the providers and the average amount paid to providers nationally in similar schemes. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
North Norfolk Action was set up on 10 May to pilot a combination of work experience and intensive case load support to people unemployed over six months. The work experience is full-time on projects of benefit to the community which would not otherwise be done. Whilst participating, people also receive help in looking for permanent jobs.
There are currently three providers of North Norfolk Action, North Norfolk County Council, Community Rural Aid, NACRO. They are paid an average of £2,840 per year for each person involved in the programme. This is to cover the cost of:
- supervisors wages;
- tools and equipment;
- Health and Safety;
- Jobskills training;
- First Aid training;
- transport; and
- administration costs.
The only programme similar to North Norfolk Action will be Community Action. This was announced in the Budget in March and will allow unemployed people to do work of community benefit. Providers of Community Action which is about to start on 27 July are paid an average of £2,080 per year per person. However Community Action providers work on a part-time basis for up to 21 hours each week. As with North Norfolk Action participants will receive an allowance equivalent to weekly benefit rate
plus £10.
I hope that this is helpful.
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.
Youth Training
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of young people who entered youth training in each of the last five years in the London East training and enterprise council area; and what were the qualifications they received in each year.
Miss Widdecombe : I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Unlawful Industrial Action
Mr. Congdon : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to fund the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The new Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action is established under section 22 of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act, 1993, which received Royal Assent on 1 July.
The new Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action will be independent of
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Government and free from ministerial direction. The commissioner has been established as a non-departmental public body to ensure this independence, while ensuring proper accountability and financial propriety.The commissioner can provide material assistance, on application, to those individuals contemplating or taking proceedings against trade unions under the new "citizen's right" provision of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993. This provision allows individuals to bring court proceedings to halt the unlawful organisation of industrial action which deprive them of goods or services.
Parliamentary approval for expenditure on the expenses of the new commissioner will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Department of Employment's programmes and central services vote - class V. vote 1. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £80,000 will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund:
Commissioner for the Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action (Class V, Vote 1) - £120,000.
Job Clubs
Ms Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many job clubs were operational for each region and for Great Britain as a whole at the latest available date; and how many of them in each region catered for groups with special needs.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : 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.
|Standard |Supportive |Executive |People with |Ex-offenders|Total
|disabilities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |83 |3 |9 |1 |1 |97
Yorkshire and Humberside |93 |13 |7 |0 |1 |114
East Midlands |89 |7 |16 |1 |1 |114
London and South East |288 |42 |43 |4 |4 |381
South West |90 |5 |14 |1 |2 |112
Wales |77 |0 |8 |0 |0 |85
West Midlands |119 |9 |13 |0 |1 |142
North West |166 |6 |13 |1 |3 |189
Scotland |116 |10 |9 |0 |0 |135
National |1,121 |95 |132 |8 |13 |1,369
Inward investment
Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what specific measures his Department takes to encourage the creation of jobs by inward investment in the United Kingdom.
Miss Widdecombe : In addition to the specific activities of the Department of Trade and Industry's Invest in Britain Bureau, one of the lowest rates of corporation tax in the developed world, and a Government who support the enterprise culture, overseas investors are attracted by the United Kingdom's labour market. Fewer days are now lost to industrial action since records began more than 100 years ago, the regulatory burden on employers is light and the labour market is the most flexible in Europe. That is why the United Kingdom attracts nearly 41 per cent. of the stock of Japanese investment and over 36 per cent. of the stock of United States investment into the EC. This continuing investment, which has created or safeguarded
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more than 275,000 jobs over the last five years, would be put at risk by adopting the added costs and restrictions of the social chapter, which the United Kingdom will continue to resist.Disabled People
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of the recession on the willingness of employers to find extra money to employ disabled people.
Miss Widdecombe : [Holding answer 23 July 1993] We are pleased that employment of people with disabilities has held up well during the recession; the Employment Service placed more than 40,000 unemployed people with disabilities into jobs during 1992-93, well ahead of its target. However, we recognise the difficulties encountered by disabled people in the employment market. It is for reasons such as these that we have special employment
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provision for disabled people and give disabled people priority for a place on our main employment and training schemes.Mr. Clapham : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to improve the employment prospects for people with disabilities in Yorkshire and Humberside; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : [holding answer 26 July 1993]We will continue to encourage employers to provide opportunities for disabled people through programmes of education and persuasion, backed by practical help, in Yorkshire and Humberside as elsewhere throughout the country. Through jobcentres, people with disabilities have access to local placing assessment and counselling teams to provide advice to people with disabilities and their employers.
Three examples of innovative initiatives in Yorkshire and Humberside are a pioneering programme run by Bradford training and enterprise council to help graduates with a disability to pursue a career in management; worklink, a specialist advisory and counselling service for people with disabilities run by Barnsley and Doncaster TEC; and in Shipley and Keighley the Cellar project, supported by the Employment Service, provides disabled people with advice, guidance and support to help them obtain
work placements and workshop places. From 1 April 1994 the new access to work initiative will be introduced to meet the employment needs of people with disabilities nationally.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for what proportion of its activities Thames Water Utilities Ltd. is exempt from the requirements of the regulations governing the employment of disabled persons; what are the terms of exemption permit held; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : [holding answer 26 July 1993] 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.
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Executive Staff(Scotland)
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many executive staff in the Department of Employment in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland who have been declared as surplus to requirements; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : [holding answer 26 July 1993] The Employment Department group currently has five executive staff in Scotland who have been declared as surplus to requirements. None of them is in Dundee.
Departmental Budget
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the budget for the current year for his Department in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom; and if he will list the budgets for the previous five years expressed in 1993 prices.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : [holding answer 26 July 1993]The Department's current budget relates in the main to England for training programmes and to Great Britain for other programmes and activities. The responsibility for delivery of the main training programmes in Scotland was transferred to the Scottish Office in 1991-92. Detailed information prior to 1991-92 could be provided only at
disproportionate cost.
Northern Ireland expenditure information can be obtained from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
DEFENCE
Contracting Out
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all those services or functions contracted out in his Department and Agencies, since November 1991, in which the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 were not applied.
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Mr. Aitken : The table lists services or functions contracted out as a result of market testing in the Department and agencies, since November 1991, in which the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 or, in the case of BAOR, equivalent German regulations based on the European acquired rights directive, were not applied. Similar information covering services or functions contracted out other than as a result of market testing could be provided only at
disproportionate cost.
Catering at Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton and HMS DRAKE, Devonport.
Ground radio/radar maintenance and engineering, Royal Naval Air Station, Portland.
Helicopter maintenance and engineering, Royal Naval Air Stations Yeovilton, Culdrose and Portland.
Aircraft maintenance, Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton. RN simulator helicopter control operations, Royal Naval Air Station, Portland.
Works services management, Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose. Engineering support, No.60 Squadron RAF.
Parachute servicing.
Andover aircraft maintenance.
Wessex helicopter maintenance, RAF Shawbury.
Air Weapon Range, RAF Holbeach.
Engineering and supply multi-activity, RAF Scampton.
Recruiting exhibition production, RAF Henlow.
Elementary Flying Training School, RAF Topcliffe.
Flight checking, No.115 Squadron, RAF Benson.
Guarding at Abbey Wood site, Bristol.
Reconnaissance visits to Bristol new site.
Catering, A & AEE Boscombe Down.
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Support services, Northern Ireland.Computer Consultancies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the computer consultancies employed by his Department and agencies, since November 1991, the tasks for which they were engaged, and the total cost to his Department.
Mr. Aitken : Since November 1991, my Department has placed 509 contracts worth a total of £23 million for consultancies related to administrative computer work. In addition, a number of divisions within my Department are empowered to place local orders for computer consultancy up to a maximum value of £25,000 per order; there were approximately 4,000 orders totalling some £1.2 million in this category.
I regret that it is not possible to provide more details without incurring disproportionate costs.
RFA Refits
Mr. Trotter : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list the RFA refits carried out in each of the last five years showing the yard at which each was carried out and in each case whether the work was allocated or won in competition.
Mr. Aitken : Information on those RFA refits finishing in the last five complete financial years, is as follows:
Vessel |Yard were work was |Allocated/Competed
|carried out
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89
RFA OAKLEAF |Falmouth Shiprepair Ltd. |Competed
RFA BAYLEAF |Falmouth Shiprepair Ltd. |Competed
RFA REGENT |Tyne Shiprepair Ltd. |Competed
RFA GREY ROVER |Smiths Shiprepair Ltd, North Shields|Competed
RFA FORT AUSTIN |Smiths Shiprepair Ltd, North Shields|Competed
RFA BLUE ROVER |Smiths Shiprepair Ltd, North Shields|Competed
RFA SIR LANCELOT |Smiths Shiprepair Ltd, North Shields|Competed
RFA SIR GALAHAD |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA SIR PERCIVALE |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA SIR GERAINT |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA TIDESPRING |Humber Shiprepair Ltd. |Competed
RFA BRAMBLELEAF |BTL, Rosyth Dockyard |Competed
RFA SIR GERAINT |BTL, Rosyth Dockyard |Allocated
RFA SIR BEDIVERE |DML, Devonport Dockyard |Allocated
1989-90
RFA OLMEDA |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA RESOURCE |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA REGENT |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA SIR TRISTRAM |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA SIR BEDIVERE |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA DILIGENCE |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA GOLD ROVER |A&P Appledore (Falmouth) Ltd. |Competed
RFA OAKLEAF |A&P Appledore (Falmouth) Ltd. |Competed
RFA ORANGELEAF |Humber Shiprepair Ltd. |Competed
RFA SIR GERAINT |Tees Dockyard Ltd. |Competed
RFA FORT GRANGE |Swan Hunter Shipbuilders |Competed
RFA OLNA |Thew Engineering, Southampton |Competed
RFA BLACK ROVER |BTL, Rosyth Dockyard |Competed
1990-91
RFA BAYLEAF |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA BLUE ROVER |Tees Dockyard Ltd. |Competed
RFA GREY ROVER |DML, Devonport Dockyard |Competed
RFA FORT AUSTIN |DML, Devonport Dockyard |Allocated
1991-92
RFA ARGUS |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA SIR BEDIVERE |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA SIR PERCIVALE |Tees, Dockyard Ltd. |Competed
RFA BLACK ROVER |DML, Devonport Dockyard |Competed
RFA ORANGELEAF |BTL, Rosyth Dockyard |Competed
RFA OLWEN |BTL, Rosyth Dockyard |Allocated
RFA GOLD ROVER |BTL, Rosyth Dockyard |Allocated
RFA BRAMBLELEAF |BTL, Rosyth Dockyard |Allocated
1992-93
RFA FORT GRANGE |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA SIR GERAINT |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA SIR GALAHAD |A&P Appledore (Tyne) Ltd. |Competed
RFA OAKLEAF |A&P Appledore (Falmouth) Ltd. |Competed
RFA DILIGENCE |Tees Dockyard Ltd. |Competed
RFA OLMEDA |DML, Devonport Dockyard |Competed
RFA SIR TRISTRAM |BTL, Rosyth Dockyard |Allocated
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Exports
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disaggregated information he can give by country of the defence equipment listed for export under table 1.11 of "UK Defence Statistics 1993" under the line listing total value of exports to the middle east and north Africa.
Mr. Aitken : I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom return to the United Nations arms register, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Blind and Partially Sighted People
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what arrangements his Department makes to ensure that blind and partially sighted people have access to information produced by his Department where it has not been published in alternative media such as Braille, large print or tape ;
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(2) what is his Department's policy on which information produced by his Department is published in alternative media to standard print such as Braille, tape or large print.Mr. Aitken : With the exception of recruitment literature and application forms, the information produced by my Department is not available in alternative media for public use, although it would be possible to provide this if it were cost effective to do so. Internal information, however, can usually be made available to staff in alternative media where there is a demand.
US Bases
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those bases and facilities operated or leased by United States armed forces that have been returned to his Department's control since June 1992.
Mr. Hanley : The list of bases and facilities made available to the United States visiting forces at the following locations and which have been returned to Ministry of Defence control since June 1992 is as follows :
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Base |Facilities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Broughton Moor |Cumbria |NATO Armaments Depot |June 1992 Holy Loch |Strathclyde |Storage/Support |June 1992 RAF Kemble |Gloucestershire |Storage/Support |June 1992 Martlesham Heath |Suffolk |Communications Site |July 1992 RAF Greenham Common |Berkshire |Standby Deployment Base|September 1992 Cairnmore Hilloch |Highlands |Communications Site |October 1992 RAF Inverbervie |Grampian |Communications Site |October 1992 Latheron |Highlands |Communications Site |October 1992 RAF Locking |Avon |Contingency Hospital |October 1992 RAF Sculthorpe |Norfolk |Standby Deployment Base|October 1992 West Murkle |Highlands |Communications Site |October 1992 Aberdeen |Grampian |Communications Site |November 1992 Kinnaber |Grampian |Communications Site |January 1993 Mormond Hill |Grampian |Communications Site |January 1993 RAF Machrihanish |Strathclyde |Storage/Support |April 1993 Glen Douglas |Strathclyde |Storage/Support |June 1993 RAF St. Mawgan |Cornwall |Storage/Support |June 1993
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those bases and facilities operated or leased by United States armed forces that are to be returned to his Department's control.
Mr. Hanley : The list of bases and facilities made available to the United States visiting forces at the following locations and which are due to be returned or partially returned to Ministry of Defence control is as follows :
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Bases |Locations |Facilities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RAF Welford |Berkshire |Storage/Support RAF Burntwood |Cheshire |Storage/Support RAF Bentwaters |Suffolk |Main Operating Base RAF Woodbridge |Suffolk |Main Operating Base RAF Caerwent |Gwent |Storage/Support Chilwell |Nottinghamshire |Storage/Support RAF Bicester |Oxfordshire |Contingency Hospital RAF Little Rissington |Gloucestershire |Contingency Hospital RAF Upper Heyford |Oxfordshire |Main Operating Base RAF Upwood |Cambridgeshire |Contingency Hospital RAF Alconbury |Cambridgeshire |Main Operating Base RAF Brawdy |Dyfed |Storage/Support
RAF Northolt
Mr. Wilkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the specialist qualifications of Dr. Pocock in (a) air transport, (b) the operation of aircraft or (c) otherwise to conduct the study commissioned by his Department into RAF communications flying from RAF Northolt.
Mr. Hanley : Dr. Pocock is a senior official with long experience of the Ministry of Defence. It is not expected that a scrutineer will have specialist qualifications in the area of his study : his job is to bring a fresh and independent perspective for Ministers and management to consider. He can of course draw on specialist advice as necessary.
Mr. Wilkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the terms of reference of Dr. Pocock's study for his Department into RAF communications flying from RAF Northolt ; and when and to whom he will report his conclusions.
Mr. Hanley : The study is part of the Government's programme of efficiency scrutinies under the supervision of the Cabinet Office efficiency unit. Its aim is to establish the scope for greater effectiveness and efficiency in RAF communications flying which involves a number of RAF stations. The study requires examinations of existing patterns of demand, procedures and costs ; the identification of trends ; and the consideration of new arrangements. The recommendations go to Ministers and the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence, as well as to the Government's efficiency adviser. The report was completed on 13 July 1993 and its conclusions are now being assessed.
Radioactive Shells
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what year the V J battery for the testing of radioactive shells were first constructed in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Aitken : The current VJ battery was constructed between 1979 and 1980.
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