APPENDIX 17
Memorandum submitted by Northern Ireland
Department of Economic Development
BACKGROUND
Lord Dubs, Under Secretary of State, Northern
Ireland Office and Patricia Hewitt MP, Economic Secretary to the
Treasury, accompanied by officials, gave oral evidence on 23 June
to the NI Affairs Committee in connection with its inquiry into
the illegal sale of fuel oils. The Committee specifically requested
additional information relating to the number of fuel samples
taken by Trading Standards Officers in the last 12 months, and
employment levels in the transport sector.
FUEL SAMPLES
Between June 1998 and June 1999 Trading Standards
Officers took three samples of petrol and 12 of diesel in response
to complaints/enquiries from the public. This is an area where
Trading Standards Officers have not in the past found any breaches
of the Weights and Measures or Trade Descriptions legislation.
EMPLOYMENT IN
LAND TRANSPORT
The Quarterly Employment Survey covering land
transport and transport via pipelines indicates a rising trend
in employment levels as follows:
| March 1998 | 10,170
|
| June 1998 | 10,210 |
| September 1998 | 10,310 |
| December 1998 | 10,610 |
| March 1999 | 10,780 |
The latest Census of Employment data (1997) provides more
detailed information whereby figures can be extracted for freight
transport by roads. Even so, this category includes other activities
as well as road haulage. The latest figures from the 1997 Census
show 5,040 employee jobs in the freight transport by roads category,
an increase of 602 on the 1995 Census.
Department of Economic Development
20 July 1999
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