§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he proposes to increase severance payments for all registered dock workers in line with the payments to be made in the Ports of Liverpool and London.
§ Mr. David WaddingtonSeverance arrangements applying to registered dock workers generally are contained in a national voluntary severance scheme (NVSS) agreed by the port employers and trade unions in the National Joint Council for the Port Transport Industry. Scales of payment under the NVSS are primarily for the industry to determine. The supplementary payments to registered dock workers accepting severance in Liverpool and London during March and April, which were announced recently by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, reflect the special needs of these ports and are outside the scope of the NVSS.