§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Paymaster General if he will estimate the likely cost to the taxpayer of writing off debts by port employers in respect of redundancy payments over the next three years.
§ Mr. LeeArrangements for Government grants to assist with the financing of current and future severances of registered dock workers remain as set out by my hon. Friend and predecessor the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 24 October 1985 at column 242. In respect of past severances, the same reply stated
Interest and capital repayments on the outstanding Government loans to the National Dock Labour Board of £44.5 million will not be sought pending an opportunity to seek parliamentary approval for the write-off of the loans".No suitable opportunity for this has yet arisen.