HC Deb 30 July 1982 vol 28 cc790-1W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people have been accepted and sent on courses under the terms of Statutory Instrument No. 954 of 1979, year by year and by steel plant locations; how many courses have been placed so far in the current year; and what was the cost of such schemes in the various steel plant locations.

Mr. Butcher

Information is not readily available in the form requested. The number of redundant steelworkers currently receiving readaptation training benefit at the latest available date, 3 July 1982, was 3,012.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people have been assisted under the provisions of Statutory Instrument No. 1776 of 1981 and previous similar legislation in each of the steel plant locations.

Mr. Butcher

Since the iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme came into operation in July 1974, 83,601 redundant steelworkers have become eligible for benefits as a result of nearly 200 separate closures or reductions in activity. Information is not readily available on the extent to which those eligible have received benefits in each of the steel plant locations.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how credits authorised under article 56. 2. b. (ECSC readaption benefits) in the period 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1981 in the Yorkshire and Humberside area have been allocated.

Mr. Butcher

During this period the European Commission allocated from ECSC funds the following amounts to be drawn on to provide readaptation benefits for steelworkers made redundant in Yorkshire and Humberside:

Closure or reduction in activity Allocation(ECU) Affected workers
BSC Rotherham 619,005 258
Watsons Metallurgical 3,250 10
William Oxley & Co. 8,500 13
Swift Levick 153,250 158
Napier, Sheffield 41,000 24
Neepsend Sheffield 173,250 149
Thomas Turton 152,750 90
J. J. Habersham 23,750 35
BSC Templeborough 363,000 350
Edgar Allen Balfour 732,750 508
Osborn Steel 460,500 222
BSC Scunthorpe 2,151,500 917
Firth Brown 2,236,000 1,168
Spartan Sheffield 63,750 18
Cocker Bros. 104,250 22
Coughlan Forge and Rolling Mill 219,750 44
Aurora Steels 262,250 69
Hadfields 7,308,500 1,973
Totals 15,077,005 6,028