Redundant Workers

HC Deb 10 May 1977 vol 931 cc418-9W

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what is the value of (a) tiding-over allowances and (b) resettlement grants paid by the European Coal and Steel Community to redundant workers in the United Kingdom, in the Northern Region, and in Cleveland County, respectively, over the last five years;

(2) what financial assistance has been given by the European Coal and Steel Community towards helping to retrain redundant workers in the United Kingdom, in the Northern Region, and in Cleveland County, respectively, over the last five years.

Mr. Les Huckfield

The following table shows the approximate total payments made under the Iron and Steel Readaptation Benefits Scheme to United Kingdom steel workers, from 1st January 1973 to

	…	…	…	United Kingdom	Northern Region	Cleveland County
Unemployment Benefit	…	…	…	1,290,000	45,000	4,600
Earnings make-up	…	…	…	640,000	8,500	4,400
Training allowances	…	…	…	238,000	200	200
Training costs	…	…	…	700,000	1,750	1,750
Resettlement grants	…	…	…	11,000	—	—

The ECSC contributes 50 per cent. of the net costs of all these benefits except for some training, where the contribution is 33⅓ per cent.

ECSC assistance for redundant coal industry employees is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what grants or loans have been made available by the European Coal and Steel Community to individuals and firms whose investments ensure the productive re-employment of workers made redundant in the iron and steel industry in the United Kingdom, in the Northern Region, and in Cleveland County, respectively, in the last five years.

Mr. Les Huckfield

Following is the information:

				£ million
United Kingdom	…	…	…	56.875
Northern Region	…	…	…	7.665
Cleveland County	…	…	…	0.765

All figures refer to loans. The United Kingdom figure includes a global loan of £10 million advanced to Finance for Industry for on-lending to small enterprises. It is not possible to provide a geographic breakdown of the use made of this loan, though I understand the Northern Region has benefited from it.