§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the average numbers of registered dock workers under the National Dock Labour Scheme for each of the last 10 years in the port of Southampton; how many are currently employed; and what is his estimate of the surplus or shortage, as the case may be, of the current dock labour force in relation to the current and prospective work loads in Southampton.
§ Mr. BoothI understand from the National Dock Labour Board that the average number of registered dock workers, including supplementary workers, on the payroll in each of the last 10 years has been:
1965 1,739 1966 1,733 1967 1,754 1968 1,879 1969 1,770 1970 1,765 1971 2,004 1972 1,860 1973 2,047 1974 2,072 The number employed on 29th July 1975 was 2,106, including 351 supplementary workers.
It is the responsibility of the National Dock Labour Board to determine and keep under review in consultation with local dock labour boards the size of the registers of dock workers and the increases or reductions to be made in the 265W numbers, having regard to all circum-stances in the port in question. I under-stand from the National Dock Labour Board that the permanent labour force at Southampton is considered to be sufficient to meet requirements in the near future; there may, however, be variations in the number of supplementary workers due to seasonal factors.