§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many applications he has received for the employment of foreign labour on site preparation in the private sector of the Welsh steel industry; what is the total number authorised; and how the applications are assessed;
(2) what representations he has received from the Wales TUC concerning the issuing of work permits for foreign labour to be employed on site preparation in the private sector of the steel industry in Wales.
§ Mr. John FraserIf the hon. Member is referring to the new steelworks being erected in Newport, no applications for work permits have been received for overseas workers to be employed on the site. If they were they would be subject to the usual conditions requiring my Department to be satisfied, among other things, that no suitable resident labour was available.
Overseas contractors may, with the permission of the immigration authorities, bring in men—monteurs—to erect their own machinery. I understand that some EEC nationals, who are free to take any work here under Community rules, are being so employed.
I have replied in similar terms to a letter on this subject which I received from Wales TUC.