§ Mr. Montgomeryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest position in the efforts to maintain a dock worker decasualisation scheme at Belfast harbour cross-channel docks.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerI am pleased to say that, following protracted negotiations involving the Department of Manpower Services, the employers, the Belfast Harbour Commission and the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union, an agreement has been concluded which I hope will put decasualised working in the cross-channel docks onto a viable footing. The agreement provides inter alia for a scheme under which 56 dockers will accept severance and for improvements in working practices. A severance fund to meet any future severance requirements will be established.
The total cost of the severance scheme is £266,060. This will be funded 50 per cent. by a loan made available by the Belfast harbour commissioners and repaid by levies on total payroll payable by the dock employers and 50 per cent. by a matching grant payable by the Department of Manpower Services.
The labour "pool" is being maintained at a rather higher level than is currently needed pending developments on a replecement for the Belfast/Liverpool ferry service which ceased operations last month. Any losses incurred by the decasualisation scheme in consequence of this holding operation will be met by the Department up to a maximum of £30,000.