§ Mr. Nicholas Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how redundancy payments payable to British Steel Corporation workers at Ebbw Vale and East Moors compare with payments being made to Dupont steelworkers at Briton Ferry;
(2) what representations he has received from representatives of redundant Dupont steelworkers from Briton Ferry; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldI, with my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment, received a deputation of Dupont steelworkers recently.
I understand that redundant BSC workers and redundant Briton Ferry workers receive from their employers a supplement of about 50 per cent. above the statutory lump sum payable under the Redundancy Payments Act 1965. In addition, both groups may be eligible for income support benefits—for periods of up to two and a half years depending on age—under the joint United Kingdom Government—ECSC readaptation scheme. Following an application by Her Majesty's Government, the European Commission has already allocated funds to readaptation benefits for Briton Ferry workers, and applications are being made for similar treatment for BSC workers at Ebbw Vale and East Moors. Thus redundant Dupont steelworkers will receive equivalent payments to those normally made to redundant BSC workers.
Unlike the closure of the Briton Ferry works, the dates of the closure of East Moors and part of Ebbw Vale works have been brought forward from dates 266W announced and agreed as part of the Beswick review. In order to compensate for the loss of expected employment thereby caused, BSC has agreed with the unions concerned to make ex gratia payments representing 26½ weeks' normal earnings at Ebbw Vale and 42 weeks' at East Moors.