§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport on 3 March, what are the special needs of the ports of London and Liverpool giving rise to additional payments; whether he has any evidence to indicate that dock workers in other ports are delaying acceptance of severance payments in anticipation of similar payments being made in other ports; what representations he has received; and if he will make a statement.
401W
§ Mr. FowlerI am providing finance for special supplementary payments for a limited period in London and Liverpool because both ports have a particularly pressing need to shed large numbers of registered dock workers, and neither port authority has the funds to pay for the improved severance terms needed to achieve this. Although I have received representations from some other ports, and from the National Association of Port Employers and the Transport and General Workers' Union, urging that these arrangements should be extended to other ports, there is no justification for similar assistance being provided elsewhere.
Industry Year No. of redundamcies Total Cast Average payment Highest single payment Lowest single payment BRB 1979 1,079 £4,817,985 £4,465.23p £10,890 Not available 1980 1,184 £6,865,979 £5,798.96p £17,868 Not available BTDB 1979 85 £536,655.66p £6,313.60p £16,398 £423.84p 1980 54 £370,967.5p £6,869.77p £10,244 £979 Notes
1. BRB figures cover all the Board's activities and subsidiaries except British Transport Hotels.
2. BTDB figures do not include Registered Dock Workers who accepted voluntary severance under the Industry's National Voluntary Severance Scheme.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the replies to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth on 5 July 1979,Official Report, col. 701-2, and 31 October 1980, Official Report, col. 401, if he is now able to confirm that the statutory procedures about the road junction have been concluded, that the necessary financial resources have been allocated and whether he still anticipates construction of a grade separated junction on the A38—Lichfield to Burton on Trent—road with the junction of the A513—Alfrewas to Rugeley—road by late 1981; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe draft statutory and compusory purchase orders were published on 27 February 1981, and the objection period ends on 11 April 1981. If there is any substantial body of objection it will be necessary to hold a public inquiry which will delay a final decision on whether to proceed with them. It may be difficult to start construction of the scheme before early 1983 but we will bring it forward if it proves practicable to do so.