§ Lord SEFTON of GARSTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there has been any liaison between Governments of EEC countries (at political or civil service level) to ensure that workers moving across frontiers in search of employment, their employers and any agents involved as middlemen are complying with such tax and national insurance regulations as may be applicable.
The Earl of GOWRIEIn order that non-compliance is kept to a minimum, officials of my department and the other departments concerned liaise with each other and their counterparts in Germany and Holland, the two European Community countries chiefly involved. Ministers also meet their opposite numbers from time to time and on such occasions, where it is relevant, any problems arising from cross-frontier employment are discussed.
§ Lord SEFTON of GARSTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps are being taken to identify the illegal employment of transient labour in large British and foreign construction firms; and what steps they will take to rectify any such illegalities.
The Earl of GOWRIEMy inspectors, appointed under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 (as amended), consistently follow up any information they receive about the activity of illegal labour leasers and recruiters operating in this country. I understand that the Federal Republic of Germany, the country most affected by the problem, is seeking a solution through the imposition of tighter employment controls. My officials work closely with their German colleagues in a common endeavour to minimise un-authorised cross-frontier labour recruitment. The European Community is also known to be contemplating an initiative in this area.
§ Lord SEFTON of GARSTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they ensure that British workers attracted to foreign employment by
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NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES (a) CURRENT GRANTS £ million 1978–79 prices April 1945 March 1950 April 1950 March 1955 April 1955 March 1960 April 1960 March 1965 April 1965 March 1970 April 1970 March 1975 April 1975 March 1980 National Coal Board — — — — 102 1,085 642 Electricity (England and Wales) — — — — 43 995 113 Electricity (Scotland) — — — — 6 85 104 British Gas Corporation — — — — 7 193 — British Steel Corporation — — — — — — — Post Office — — — — — 708 15 Airways 226 68 — — — — — British Airports Authority — — — — — — — British Shipbuilders — — — — — — 68 British Transport Commission — — — 1,036 — — — British Railways Board — — — 976 2,068 2,003 2,907 London Transport Board — — — — 124 5 — British Transport Docks Board — — — — — — — British Waterways Board — — — 11 23 38 77 National Freight Corporation — — — — 50 66 97 National Bus Company — — — — — 18 — Scottish Transport Group — — — — 2 12 21 British National Oil Corporation — — — — — — — British Aerospace — — — — — — — 170WA 171WA
(b) CAPITAL GRANTS* £ million 1978–79 prices April 1945 March 1950 April 1950 March 1955 April 1955 March 1960 April 1960 March 1965 April 1965 March 1970 April 1970 March 1975 April 1975 March 1980 National Coal Board — — — — — — — Electricity (England and Wales) — — — — — — — Electricity (Scotland) — — — — — — — British Gas Corporation — — — — — — — British Steel Corporation — — — — — — — Post Office — — — — — — — Airways — — — — — — — British Airports Authority — — — — — 8 25 British Shipbuilders — — — — — — 1 British Transport Commission — — — — — — — British Railways Board — — — — 2 110 31 London Transport Board — — — — — — — British Transport Docks Board — — — — — — — British Waterways Board — — — — 1 13 10 National Freight Corporation — — — — — — 10 National Bus Company — — — — 7 56 96 Scottish Transport Group — — — — 1 10 22 British National Oil Corporation — — — — — — — British Aerospace — — — — — — 51†
(c) CAPITAL DEBT AND REVENUE DEFICITS WRITTEN-OFF £ million 1978–79 prices‡ April 1945 March 1950 April 1059 March 1955 April 1955 March 1960 April 1960 March 1965 April 1965 March 1970 April 1970 March 1975 April 1975 March 1980 National Coal Board — — — 1,494 — 1,056 — Electricity (England and Wales) — — — — — — — Electricity (Scotland) — — — — — — — British Gas Corporation — — — — — — — British Steel Corporation — — — — — 822 — Post Office — — — — — 408 44 Airways — — — 486 — — — British Airports Authority — — — — — — — British Shipbuilders — — — — — — — British Transport Commission — — — 1,850 — — — British Railways Board — — — — 3,889 350 — London Transport Board — — — — 790 — — British Transport Docks Board — — — — — — — British Waterways Board — — — — 48 — — National Freight Corporation — — — — — — 54 National Bus Company — — — — — — — Scottish Transport Group — — — — — — — British National Oil Corporation — — — — — — — British Aerospace — — — — — — — *Excluding grants also paid to private industry (e.g. Regional Development Grants and bus fuel duty rebates). †Amount paid to BAe in connection with membership of Airbus Industries. As announced on 26th February 1980, it was determined that, with effect from 31st December 1979, the grant should be treated as though it were public dividend capital issued under Section 16 of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977. ‡The index used for conversion to 1978–79 prices is based on changes in the internal purchasing power of the pound. agents operating in this country are neither cheated of their wages nor subjected to threats and intimidation without recourse to legal remedy.
The Earl of GOWRIEA number of steps have been taken by my department to limit this traffic and to alert British workers to the risks they run in accepting offers of employment reaching them from unauthorised sources. These include encouraging the press to check the credentials of advertisers in this field, inviting prospective job-seekers through notices displayed at unemployment benefit offices and job centres to seek guidance from employment advisers before accepting dubious job offers, and providing employment agencies with information about the relevant employment laws of West Germany and the Netherlands.
§ Lord SEFTON of GARSTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
172WAWhether agents operating in this country to attract British workers to foreign employment have to be licensed; and, if so, how their conduct is monitored and by whom.
The Earl GOWRIEAll employment agencies and employment businesses (i.e. staff contractors or labour leasers) operating from premises in Great Britain are required under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 (as amended) to be licensed by the Secretary of State and are subject to inspection by authorised officers in my department. Those engaged in the recruitment of workers for employment overseas also comply with the relevant laws of the country to which the workers are sent.
§ Lord SEFTON of GARSTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
What liaison exists between the various Government departments in- 173WA volved in supervising the recruitment and employment of British workers abroad; and how and to whom they report.
The Earl of GOWRIENo formal machinery for liaison exists. My department, which has responsibility for enforcement of the Employment Agencies Act, maintains regular contact with the Employment Service Division of the Manpower Services Commission and liaises as and when appropriate with the other departments concerned. As Minister responsible, I am kept informed of the position.