§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report as much detailed information as may be readily available showing the amounts of indebtedness of the National Dock Labour Board in respect of money borrowed for financial assistance towards the financing of severance payments to registered dock workers; what payments have been made for the stated number of clock workers and the amounts paid per docker; and on what basis such payments have been made.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe total current indebtedness of the National Dock Labour Board in respect of voluntary severance schemes for registered dock workers is £71.8 million, made up of three Government loans totalling £69·8 million and bank overdraft of £2 million.
During 1982 severance payments totalling £59.8 million have so far been made to 2,777 registered dock workers, an average payment of £21,520 per worker.
The severance payments are administered by the National Dock Labour Board and are on terms established in agreements reached by the national joint council for the port transport industry.