HC Deb 14 March 1989 vol 149 cc193-5W
24. Mr. Shersby

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered dock workers have been recruited in the last 12 months by the dock labour scheme port of Tees and Hartlepool.

Mr. Nicholls

In the port of Tees and Hartlepool 12 registered dock workers have been recruited in the last 12 months.

32. Mr. Robert G. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many dockers were employed by dock labour scheme ports in 1979; how many are currently employed in those ports; and if he will estimate similar figures for non-scheme ports.

Mr. Nicholls

Dock labour scheme ports employed 25,770 registered dock workers in 1979, in 1989 they currently employ 9,471. Comparable figures for non-scheme ports are not available.

34. Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to seek to amend the dock labour scheme with a view to implementing the free movement of labour provisions of the Single European Act in 1992.

90. Mr. Irvine

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to review the operation of the national dock labour scheme.

Mr. Nicholls

The Government's position on the scheme remains unchanged as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister confirmed in the House on January 19 1989, at columns481–82.

58. Mr. Anthony Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the National Association of Port Employers to discuss the future of the dock labour scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to meet the National Association of Port Employers to discuss the future of the dock labour scheme.

61. Mrs. Gillian Shephard

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the national average age of registered dock workers in dock labour scheme ports.

Mr. Nicholls

In 1987 (the latest available date) the national average age for registered dock workers in dock labour scheme ports was 46.7 years.

63. Mr. Robert B. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the future of the dock labour scheme.

Mr. Nicholls

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about the future of the dock labour scheme.

74. Mr. Nicholas Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the 1988 average wage of registered dock workers in dock labour scheme ports.

Mr. Nicholls

The average earnings of registered dock workers in the last quarter of 1988 was £341.83 per week.

77. Mrs. Peacock

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of the dock labour scheme on the creation of real jobs in port areas.

Mr. Nicholls

Where the dock labour scheme has sustained inefficiency in dock work leading to loss of business, and has acted as a disincentive to investment in adjacent areas, there is no doubt that local job prospects have suffered.

89. Mr. Jessel

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many demarcation disputes exist at the present time in relation to registered dock workers claiming work that is currently undertaken by other workers.

Mr. Nicholls

Four cases arising from disputed definitions of dock work under the dock labour scheme are currently under litigation.

95. Mr. Riddick

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what reports he received of the National Dock Labour Board's monthly meetings.

Mr. Nicholls

There is no requirement for the National Dock Labour Board to provide me with reports of its monthly meetings.

99. Mr. David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the fishing industry in Grimsby or Aberdeen on the future of the dock labour scheme.

Mr. Nicholls

I have received a number of representations about the operation of the dock labour scheme on the fishing industry in Grimsby and Aberdeen.

142. Mr. Waller

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to examine the operations of the dock labour scheme on the River Thames; and whether representations have been made to him about the effect on businesses along the Thames brought about by the operation of the dock labour scheme.

Mr. Nicholls

My right hon. Friend has received and noted several representations about the operation of the dock labour scheme on the Thames river.

165. Mr. Carrington

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now covered by the national dock labour scheme.

Mr. Nicholls

The total number of registered dock workers in ports covered by the national dock labour scheme was 9,741 on 28 February 1989.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average daily surplus of labour in dock labour scheme ports during 1988.

Mr. Nicholls

In 1988 the average daily surplus of labour in dock labour scheme ports was 932.

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