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Number of employers below quota on 1 June issued with permits in the previous 12 months Year |Numbers ------------------------ 1979 |22,412 1980 |22,001 1981 |21,183 1982 |19,796 1983 |18,536 1984 |18,769 1985 |18,681 1986 |18,840 1987 |18,577 1988 |18,594 1989 |18,530 1990 |18,036 1991 |17,649 1992 |15,871 1993 |16,684
Access to Work Scheme
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the result of research carried out by his Department on the attitude of disabled employees and prospective employees upon the introduction of employers' contributions under the access to work proposals.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Disabled people's organisations have generally welcomed the new forms of help to overcome barriers to work which the employer contributions under access to work will make possible. We are taking account of the views expressed by their organisations about the employer contribution in making our final decisions about the scheme.
Business Start-up Scheme
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of entrants to the business start-up scheme who were receiving income support immediately previous to entry remained in business for at least 18 months.
Miss Widdecombe : Information on the number of business start-up scheme--BSUS--participants receiving income support prior to entry is not routinely collected ; nor has information in this form been collected through recent surveys. A recent follow-up survey of BSUS participants identified those who were unemployed and claiming any State benefit prior to entry on BSUS. Sixty-nine per cent. of these survived in business for at least 18 months.
Enterprise Allowance
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those taking up enterprise allowance in 1992-93 were immediately prior to their taking up this scheme in receipt of income support or unemployment benefit.
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Miss Widdecombe : The business start-up scheme replaced the enterprise allowance scheme in April 1991. Information about those who start on the scheme is collected from special surveys. The latest survey covers those who started in May 1991. From the survey, it is estimated that 66 per cent. of those who started in May 1991 were unemployed and claiming benefit prior to starting the scheme.
Workstart
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have taken up places on the workstart pilot schemes in (a) south London, (b) Tyneside and (c) east Kent since last March ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I refer the hon and learned Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 7 December 1993, Official Report, columns 210-11.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what his Department's policy is regarding the use of executive search consultants in making appointments to public bodies ; and if he will (a) list the appointments where such consultants have been used and (b) list the cost in each case since April 1992.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The use of executive search consultants is one of the options which the Employment Department considers in making appointments to public bodies.
Since April 1992, the following appointments made using consultants and the fees paid excluding VAT are as follows :
Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission,
appointed from 1 October 1993. Fees--£25,000.
Chief Executive of Investors in People UK,
appointed from 1 December 1993. Fees--£15,000.
Finance Director of Remploy Ltd.,
appointed from 1 April 1992. Fees--£18,085.
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which of the appointments made to public bodies by his Department since April 1992 have been advertised.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The following five appointments to public bodies sponsored by the Employment Department have been advertised since April 1992 :
Chairman of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) ;
Chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission ;
Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission ;
Chief Executive of Investors in People UK ;
Finance Director of Remploy Ltd.
Training and Enterprise Councils
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the minimum and maximum numbers of possible board members of training and enterprise councils ; what guidelines he has issued concerning the composition of these boards ; and what specific guidance has been given on how many board members should be (i) from ethnic minorities, (ii) women, (iii) from the local business sector, (iv) from local authorities and (v) from trade unions.
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Miss Widdecombe : A training and enterprise council board must have at least nine directors and not more than 15, excluding the chief executive. The TEC operating agreement sets out the broad framework for TEC boards and specifies that two thirds of the directors must come from the private sector. The remaining third may be drawn from education, economic development, trade unions, voluntary organisations and the public sector. More generally, the Department expects a TEC board to reflect the composition of the local area it serves.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of chairpersons and board members of training and enterprise councils in England and Wales.
Miss Widdecombe : The total number of board members for the 75 training and enterprise councils for England is 1,015--75 of whom are chairmen. Information for the TECs in Wales is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales to reply.
Joblink Enterprise Ltd.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the average cost to public funds of a Joblink Enterprise Ltd. job plan class ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what is the total amount of funding the Government have committed to Joblink Enterprise Ltd. since Joblink Enterprise's inception ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Responsib
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 16 December 1993 :
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Questions about Joblink Enterprise Ltd and their involvement in the delivery of programmes for unemployed people and in particular Jobplan Workshops.
It may be helpful if I explain that the Employment Service (ES) contracts for a range of programmes to help unemployed people back to work. Contracts are normally awarded as a result of competitive tendering and successful organisations come from the public, private and voluntary sectors.
You ask for information about one provider, Joblink Enterprise Ltd who currently hold a number of contracts to deliver ES programmes including Jobplan workshops. Without the permission of the organisation in question, it would, I believe, be inappropriate to disclose information about the average cost of these contracts not least because as it may give other organisations an unfair advantage when future tenders are invited. I can tell you, however, that the average costs nationally of Jobplan workshops and Restart Courses are £1,067 and £708 per course excluding VAT, respectively.
You also ask what is the total value of contracts placed with Joblink Enterprise. Between 1 July 1992 and 14 December 1993 we have paid them a total of £2,501,706 for the delivery of our programmes. Vocational training is delivered through the Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) in England and Wales and Local Enterprise Companies (LECs) in Scotland. Contracts for the delivery of training are awarded by the individual TECs and LECs.
I have been told by Training, Enterprise and Education Directorate (TEED) of the Employment Department that there is no record of any training contracts between any TEC/LEC and Joblink Enterprise Ltd. I hope this is helpful.
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Advertising
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the cost of advertising by his Department has been for each year since 1979 and for each of the last 12 months.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information requested is set out in the table :
Cost of Advertising since 1979 and
monthly over last 12 months
|£
-------------------------------------
1979-80 |70,000
1980-81 |320,000
1981-82 |400,000
1982-83 |360,000
1983-84 |500,000
1984-85 |320,000
1985-86 |1,220,000
1986-87 |12,300,000
1987-88 |4,100,000
1988-89 |4,400,000
1989-90 |1,800,000
1990-91 |500,000
1991-92 |12,600,000
1992-93 |4,300,000
Last 12 months
December 1992 |1,555,460
January 1993 |920,006
February 1993 |34,440
March 1993 |1,046,965
April 1993 |Nil
May 1993 |Nil
June 1993 |155,329
July 1993 |Nil
August 1993 |928,438
September 1993 |675,035
October 1993 |15,586
November 1993 |1,685,833
Press Releases
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many press releases his Department has issued in each year since 1979.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The number of press notices issued by the Employment Department in each year since 1979 is as follows :
|Number
----------------------
1979 |365
1980 |304
1981 |313
1982 |297
1983 |297
1984 |245
1985 |317
1986 |343
1987 |301
1988 |301
1989 |341
1990 |427
1991 |418
1992 |302
<1>1993 |249
<1> To date.
Administration
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure by his Department on administration in 1992-93 ; what is the
Column 858
estimated outturn for expenditure by his Department on administration for 1993-94 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in, 1992-93 prices ; and what is his estimate for expenditure on administration by his Department for 1994-95 in (a) cash terms and (b) 1992 -93 prices.Mr. Michael Forsyth : The following figures show the Employment Department's spend for 1992-93 and expenditure plans for 1993-94 and 1994- 95.
(i) The final outturn for the recurrent costs of the Department for 1992-93 is £1.568 million.
(ii) The running costs limit for 1993-94 is £1.672 million. An estimated outturn will be published in the spring in the 1994 departmental report and the unified Budget supplement.
(iii) The Department's planned running costs expenditure for 1994-95 will be available in the unified Budget supplement and the departmental report to be published in the spring.
The gross domestic product deflators required to calculate real terms figures are shown on page 121 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994-95", HC 31, copies of which are available in the Library.
Subsidiarity
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the European Community directives which the Government are considering submitting for abolition, modification or replacement on grounds of subsidiarity.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
Health and Safety Executive
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what costs have so far been incurred by the Health and Safety Executive in the course of its pay and grading review, including both the costs of external consultants and in-house staff.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Health and Safety Executive will assume responsibility for delegated pay bargaining on 1 April 1994. The cost incurred so far is £4,000 for computer software. Similar expenditure is anticipated in 1994. There are no additional staff costs.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what areas the Health and Safety Executive is considering for the introduction of increased, or new, charges to industry.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Health and Safety Commission has under review the scope for introducing new charges for performance by the Health and Safety Executive--HSE--of statutory functions and the provision of facilities and services. Existing charges are reviewed annually to ensure HSE's costs in discharging the functions or providing the facilities or services are fully recovered.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the Health and Safety Executive's grant-in-aid was spent in 1992-93 on (a) salaries, (b) travel and subsistence, (c) accommodation, (d) extra-mural contracts and (e) training.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Health and Safety Executive's expenditure expressed as percentage of the grant-in-aid was :
Column 859
|Per cent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) | Salaries |65.6
(b) | Travel and Subsistence |5.7
(c) | Accommodation |11.3
(d) | Extra-Mural Research and Testing Contracts|16.6
(e) | Training |2.6
The Health and Safety Commission/Executive's total expenditure in 1992-93 was £211.8 million of which £171.3 million was funded by grant-in -aid.
Construction Sites (Electricity)
Mr. Wells : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations the Health and Safety Executive has received from the European Commission in respect of the use of 110 volt equipment on construction sites ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Earlier this year, European Commission officials responsible for ensuring free trade in electrical equipment challenged the Health and Safety Executive--HSE--to justify its consistent encouragement of the use of 110 volt as opposed to 240 volt electrical equipment on construction sites and similar outdoor worksites.
The European Commission has not asked that 110 volt electrical equipment be banned from use on United Kingdom construction sites, only that HSE should cease to encourage the use of this equipment in preference to 240 volt.
Correspondence is continuing between the Commission and United Kingdom officials who are defending our position on electrical safety in high-risk sites of this type.
Bank Holidays
Mr. Wells : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the early May day bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mr. David Hunt : On 1 December 1992, the Government issued a consultation document on the future of the early May bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It is clear from the representations received by my Department that there is no clear consensus in favour of a move. While some favour permanently moving the holiday, businesses anticipate difficulties with such a change.
In light of its goal of reducing burdens on business, the Government have decided not to move the early May bank holiday from the first Monday in May on a permanent basis. However, for 1995 only, the holiday will be held in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the second Monday in May, to link with events on and near VE day commemorating the 50th anniversary of the ending of the second world war. In Scotland the anniversary will be marked by an additional day's bank holiday, also on the second Monday in May and for 1995 only. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is making an announcement today on the commemorative arrangements for 1995.
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International Labour Conference
Mr. Wells : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for publishing the White Paper on the instruments adopted at the 79th session of the International Labour Conference 1992.
Mr. David Hunt : I have today published the White Paper entitled "International Labour Conference", Cm. 2433.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total budget for the non-departmental public bodies for (a) 1992-93 and (b) 1993-94 ; and what is the planned budget for 1994-95.
Mr. Waldegrave : There is no overall budget for non-departmental public bodies--NDPBs--but the Government continue to keep the numbers and cost effectiveness of NDPBs under scrutiny. The total expenditure for NDPBs in 1992-93 is shown in "Public Bodies 1993", published today.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities were included on both the public appointments unit central list and reserve list for each year since its formation.
Mr. David Davis : Information about the number of women on the public appointments unit's list is available only from 1988 :
2
Public Appointments Unit's list
as at 1 April
|Women |Per cent.|Total
--------------------------------------------------
1988 |1,573 |27.5 |5,721
1989 |1,769 |30 |5,873
1990 |1,807 |30.5 |5,926
1991 |1,823 |32 |5,699
1992 |1,868 |33 |5,671
1993 |1,712 |36.3 |4,713
Dr. Wright : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table showing the numbers of people from each region held on both the public appointments unit central and reserve lists.
Mr. David Davis : The information requested is as follows :
Number of people on the Public
Appointments Unit list
Region |Number
-------------------------------------------
East Anglia |653
East Midlands |233
West Midlands |290
South East |3,339
Northern |155
North West |307
South West |350
Yorkshire and Humberside |258
Northern Ireland<3> |11
Scotland<3> |157
Wales<3> |107
Elsewhere |<1>42
|----
Total |<2>5,902
<1>Individuals in this category ar those
who are currently living or working
overseas.
<2>This figure is higher than the total
number of people currently on the Public
Appointment Unit's list (4,982 at 1
December 1993) as
individuals can be counted as being in
more than one region if they live in one
area and work in another, or if they have
homes in different areas.
<3>Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
also maintain their own central lists.
Dr. Wright : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table showing for both the public appointments unit central and reserve lists for each year since its formation, how many of the people on the lists were aged (a) under 30, (b) 30 to 44, (c) 45 to 54 and (d) over 55 years.
Mr. David Davis : The information cannot be given in the form requested. The number of people on the public appointments unit's list by age group is available only from 1988 onwards :
Column 861
Breakdown of public appointments unit's list by age
as at 1 April
Age |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993
------------------------------------------------------
Under 40 |304 |299 |279 |260 |249 |238
41 to 50 |1,108|1,200|1,201|1,180|1,172|1,124
51 to 60 |2,290|2,329|2,314|2,282|2,259|2,069
61 and over |2,009|2,035|2,121|1,967|1,982|1,266
Not known |10 |10 |11 |10 |9 |16
|--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Total |5,721|5,873|5,926|5,699|5,671|4,713
Mrs. Lait : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many non-departmental public bodies are currently in existence ; and when the annual list of such bodies will be published.
Mr. David Davis : On 1 April 1993, there were 358 executive bodies, 11 fewer than in 1992 ; 829 advisory bodies, 17 less than in 1992 ; 68 tribunals, two more than in 1992 ; and 134 boards of visitors, three more than in 1992. In total there were 1,389 non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)--a fall of 23 over 1992. Details can be found in "Public Bodies 1993" published today. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
The publication also includes details of the numbers of appointments to boards and tribunals which are held by women and by members of the ethnic minorities. The figures show that at 1 September 1993, 28 per cent. of such appointments were held by women, and that 2.3 per cent. of such appointments were held by members of the ethnic minorities. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave further details in his answers to two questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, North (Mr. Heald) on 10 December, at column 378.
Press Releases
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many press releases his Department has issued in each year since 1979.
Mr. David Davis : My Department issued 190 press releases up to 13 December this year. In the 12 months to 31 December 1992, we issued 113 releases. The Department did not exist in a comparable form before 1992 and earlier figures are not therefore available.
Column 862
Advertising
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost of advertising by his Department has been for each year since 1979 and for each of the last 12 months.
Mr. David Davis : Expenditure by the Office of Public Service and Science on advertising was £19,304 in 1991-92 and £608,957 in 1992-93. The figure for 1992-93 includes £589,838 in connection with the citizens charter. Figures for earlier years are not available in the form requested.
The costs of advertising by the OPSS, including the citizens charter, in each of the last 12 months was as follows :
|£
-------------------------------
December 1992 |70,048
January 1993 |3,677
February 1993 |47,509
March 1993 |5,376
April 1993 |4,089
May 1993 |22,255
June 1993 |94,920
July 1993 |35,878
August 1993 |11,772
September 1993 |47,179
October 1993 |231,589
November 1993 |58,199
Equal Opportunities
Mrs. Lait : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress towards achieving equality of opportunity for women staff in the civil service.
Mr. David Davis : In the past year, steady progress has been made. Women now represent 51.2 per cent. of staff in the non-industrial home civil service. There are more
Column 863
women than ever before in the management grades, with improved representation in the senior grades. There is an increasing use of flexible working patterns by women and men in the civil service and further development of childcare facilities. A report on the progress made during 1992-93 towards achieving equality of opportunity for women in the civil service has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.Column 864
NORTHERN IRELAND
Health and Social Services
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average annual cost for each health and social services board of employing (a) medical staff, (b) nursing and midwifery staff, (c) managerial staff and (d) administrative and clerical staff since 1989.
Mr. Ancram : The total salary costs for each health and social services board are as follows :
Column 863
|1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern board
Medical |8,210,442 |9,288,732 |10,786,951 |12,381,748
Nursing and midwifery |34,387,647 |36,955,307 |40,705,840 |43,072,674
Managerial |1,784,946 |2,614,931 |3,606,049 |4,120,506
Administrative and clerical |8,623,084 |10,094,044 |11,988,912 |13,437,300
Southern board
Medical |7,575,299 |8,586,603 |9,620,066 |11,017,376
Nursing and midwifery |33,742,156 |35,761,324 |39,162,441 |42,337,341
Managerial |1,653,891 |2,394,217 |3,277,790 |3,824,360
Administrative and clerical |6,666,472 |7,566,225 |8,515,539 |9,700,053
Eastern board
Medical |35,894,014 |38,970,147 |43,475,622 |48,752,455
Nursing and midwifery |101,627,840|107,421,303|118,280,999|124,805,719
Managerial |4,387,540 |7,063,168 |10,482,805 |11,692,542
Administrative and clerical |25,243,937 |28,616,370 |32,697,561 |35,914,746
Western board
Medical |7,343,414 |8,124,386 |9,260,413 |10,546,166
Nursing and midwifery |34,521,277 |37,242,366 |40,937,151 |43,719,361
Managerial |1,197,128 |1,738,941 |2,404,004 |3,104,756
Administrative and clerical |6,478,957 |7,456,332 |8,560,506 |9,435,497
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, for each health and social services board, the number of (a) administrative and clerical staff, by grade, and (b) managerial staff by grade since 1989.
Column 864
Mr. Ancram : The information in the format requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the table shows the combined managerial, administrative and clerical staff levels in the four boards since 1989.
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