§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many steelworkers in the United Kingdom received direct benefits during 1980 from the European Coal and Steel Community iron and steel employees readaptation scheme; and how this compares with the number of beneficiaries in the other European Economic Community member States.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallSome 38,000 redundant steelworkers received benefits under the iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme in 1980. Comparable numbers of redundant steelworkers in other European Community States who received readaptation benefits in 1980 are not available.
Figures are available to show the number of redundant steelworkers for whose benefit ECSC funds were allocated in 1980. Allocations are drawn on over the full period of entitlement. In the United Kingdom this is 78 to 130 weeks, depending on allocations made in the two preceeding years. ECSC funds were allocated in 1980 for readaptation benefits for the following numbers of steelworkers:
Belgium 610 Germany 3,656 France 7,278 Ireland 229 Luxembourg 450 United Kingdom 20,102
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the value in 1980 of actual disbursements for the benefit of redundant steelworkers in the United Kingdom from the European Coal and Steel Community iron and steel employees readaptation scheme; and what percentage of total disbursement to steelworkers in the European Economic Community this represented.
Mr. Michael Marshall: Actual disbursements under the iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme in 1980 amounted to some £28 million. Comparable figures are not available for disbursements to steelworkers in other Community member countries.
Of ECSC funds allocated in 1980 to the provision of readaptation benefits for redundant steelworkers, some 72 per cent. was allocated to the United Kingdom.
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§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many redundant steelworkers in 1980 received benefits under the British Steel Corporation's employment and income security agreements; and what was the total value of disbursements.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe total number of steelworkers made redundant in 1980 who were eligible for benefits under the BSC's employment and income security agreements was 11,320. The period of benefit varies between 78 and 130 weeks after redundancy depending on age, so that part of the total 1980 disbursement of approximately £14 million will have been paid to those made redundant in 1978 and 1979. Similarly, disbursements will be made in 1981 and 1982 in respect of those made redundant in 1980.