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French Fishermen

Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what statutory provision the United Kingdom is permitted to suspend concessions for French fishermen fishing in United Kingdom waters. [7790]

Mr. Baldry: The rights of access of French fishing vessels to fish in United Kingdom waters are contained in Council regulation (EEC) No. 3760/92. Article 6 and annex 1 of this regulation set out particular access rights in the coastal waters of the United Kingdom between six and 12 miles. These access rights are given statutory effect in the Fishing Boat (European Economic Community) Designation Order 1983, as amended. They

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could not be unilaterally suspended without the United Kingdom being in breach of its international obligations.

Genetically-engineered Tomatoes

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received on the labelling of genetically-engineered tomatoes. [7844]

Mrs. Browning: As many of the letters received on genetic modification over the last year have covered a wide range of issues it is not possible to give precise figures easily on the number that have mentioned the labelling of genetically modified tomatoes but it is estimated to be fewer than 25.

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EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Teachers (Early Retirement)

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions she has had with the Treasury in respect of the proposed changes to early retirement provisions for teachers. [7105]

Mrs. Gillan: My right hon. Friend discusses all issues that have a significant impact on public spending with the Treasury.

National Vocational Qualifications

Mr. Bryan Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many national vocational qualifications have been awarded to individuals assessed at an overseas award centre. [6934]

Mr. Paice: Data are not available on the number of national vocational qualifications awarded to individuals assessed at an overseas award centre.

Mr. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Eduction and Employment how many national vocational qualifications awarded by the end of December 1995 were gained by individuals on Government training schemes. [6938]

Mr. Paice [holding answer 28 November 1996]: The information requested is not available. According to information from the youth training and training for work follow-up surveys, 41 per cent. of YT and 42 per cent. of TfW leavers respectively gained a full qualification in England and Wales in 1995 and a further 9 per cent. of YT and 7 per cent. of TfW leavers gained a part-qualification. Many of these will have been NVQs; however, in 1995, many predecessor qualifications were still in use.

International Labour Organisation

Sir Roger Moate: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the effective annual contribution of the United Kingdom to the International Labour Organisation; what assessment she has made of the benefits of the United Kingdom from membership of that organisation; and what periodic reviews of the United Kingdom's membership are conducted. [7976]

Mr. Paice: Some £9,006,587, or 5.24 per cent., of the ILO's budget, in 1996. The Government review Britain's membership of all UN agencies, including the ILO, on a regular basis.

Sir Roger Moate: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many complaints have been made by the International Labour Organisation against (a) United Kingdom trades union and employment legislation and (b) British companies in the last 10 years. [7975]

Mr. Paice: In the last 10 years, about 35 representations have been made to the ILO on UK trade union and employment legislation, including four on its implementation by British companies and industries. All these representations were made by the TUC. Only five

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of the issues concerned have been debated at the ILO conference. There have been no representations by employer organisations.

Sir Roger Moate: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response she has made to the charges made by the International Labour Organisation about the alleged unfairness of United Kingdom trade union legislation; what assessment she has made of the procedures in the International Labour Organisation for examining allegations from trade unions about British employers; and what steps are taken by the United Kingdom Government to ensure that proper representations are made in response. [7977]

Mr. Paice: The Government respond fully to all comments made by the ILO supervisory bodies on their legislation through the normal reporting machinery. They have explained why they believe nothing in British law and practice is incompatible with our obligations under ratified ILO conventions. The UK has been at the forefront of moves to streamline and modernise the ILO's supervisory machinery.

Personal Services Industry

Mr. Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many notified vacancies offering employment as models have been displayed by the Employment Service on a monthly average, in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will break down the information by region; [7988]

(2) how many notified vacancies offering employment in sauna baths, massage parlours, escort and kissogram agencies have been displayed by the Employment Service, on a monthly average, in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will break down the information by region; [7989]

(3) how many notified vacancies offering employment in the personal services industry have been refused or withdrawn by the Employment Service due to concerns of taste or decency expressed by staff or clients; [7990]

(4) how many jobseeker's directives have been issued to clients who have refused notified vacancies in the personal services industry; [7991]

(5) how many clients have had their jobseeker's allowance refused or reduced for refusing to take up a notified vacancy in the personal services industry. [7992]

Mr. Forth: Responsibility for the subject of the questions 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 Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 10 December 1996:

The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to write to you direct about your questions of 4 December concerning vacancies in the personal services industry, and the numbers of clients who have received jobseeker's directions, or had their Jobseekers Allowance refused or reduced, for refusing such vacancies. This falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.

You asked for information about notified vacancies offering employment as models and also those offering employment in sauna

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baths, massage parlours, escort and kissogram agencies. I am afraid such information is not available.
It might be helpful if I explained that the Employment Service keeps records of vacancies notified based on the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) and Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). These form the framework for the collection and analysis of data used by the Office for National Statistics and also meet standards required by the EC Regulation.
SOC uses a structured approach to occupational classification. Occupations are identified and aggregated with reference to the similarity of qualifications, training, skills and experience commonly associated with the competent performance of constituent tasks. Variations in the tasks performed occur between one place of employment and another and consequently not all definitions can be expected to coincide exactly with specific jobs in a particular establishment or in a given locality. SIC was first introduced into the United Kingdom in 1948 for use in classifying business establishments and other statistical units by the type of economic activity in which they are engaged. The classification provides a framework for the collection, tabulation, presentation and analysis of data about economic activities. Its use promotes uniformity of data collected by various government departments and agencies. In addition it can be used for administrative purposes and by many non-government bodies as a convenient way of classifying industrial activities into a common structure.
The structure of SOC and SIC mean, I am afraid, that it is not possible to break down information in a way which would enable the particular information you are interested in to be separately identified.
On the question of notified vacancies in the personal services sector which have been withdrawn, due to concerns expressed relating to taste and decency, information of this nature is not collected. However, all Jobcentres have guidance which stipulates that they must not accept vacancies which: are illegal; would result in a breach of the law; might put jobseekers at risk. It also states that if they are notified of vacancies which require models, offer employment in sauna baths, massage parlours, escort and kissogram agencies, or other personal/telephone services special regard should be paid to the reputation of the employer. Details are sought of the establishment and conditions of training and employment, whether the hours of work or the location or interview arrangements give cause for concern, and whether there is an indication of a lack of professional standards. Jobcentres are advised that where any concerns arise about the above issues that such vacancies should be treated with caution and in any cases of doubt they should refuse to handle the vacancies. Following questions asked on 4 November by the Honourable Member for Sheffield Hillsborough about a female constituent being referred to a vacancy for an administrative assistant with a male escort agency, work is in progress to further strengthen this guidance.
The information you requested concerning the number of jobseeker's directions issued to clients who have refused notified vacancies in the personal services industry, and the number of clients who have had their Jobseeker's Allowance refused or reduced for refusing to take up such vacancies, is not available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
Your questions on the policy in respect of the continuing payment of Jobseeker's Allowance to people who have refused to take a job in the personal services industry, and your proposed amendment to the regulations, will be answered direct by the Minister of State.
I hope this is helpful in clarifying the position.

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