HC Deb 29 July 1983 vol 46 cc649-50W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether there are any plans to renew or replace the temporary short-time working compensation scheme after it has ended in March 1984.

Mr. Alan Clark

We have no plans to renew or replace the temporary short-time working compensation scheme, which is due to close for applications on 31 March 1984.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received in support of the continuation of the termporary short-time working compensation scheme.

Mr. Alan Clark

We have received representations in support of the continuation of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme from a number of organisations including the Confederation of British Industry, the Engineering Employers Federation and the British Clothing Industry Association.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average annual cost per job supported by the temporary short-time working compensation scheme.

Mr. Alan Clark

In 1982–83 total expenditure on the temporary short-time working compensation scheme was £72 million and the average number of jobs supported in any month was 50,500. On this basis the average annual gross cost per job supported was £1,426. The maximum period of support in respect of any one job was reduced from 9 months at the start of the year to 6 months in July 1982.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average number of jobs being supported in 1981–82 through the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in (a) manufacturing industry as a whole and (b) the textile, clothing and footwear industries.

Mr. Alan Clark

The average number of potentially redundant jobs supported under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme each month during the financial year 1981–82 in manufacturing as a whole was 179,328. This includes an average of 28,730 in the textile, clothing and footwear industries.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of expenditure under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme was spent on the clothing, textile and footwear industries in 1981–82.

Mr. Alan Clark

It is estimated that 10 per cent. of expenditure under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in the financial year 1981–82 was spent on the textile, clothing and footwear industries.