HC Deb 22 June 1988 vol 135 cc556-7W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the levy per tonne set each year since 1973 on steel production for the ECSC budget; and how much was raised each year by the levy on production from(a) British Steel Corporation works and (b) private steelmakers.

Mr. Atkins

The ECSC levy is raised on the average value of the production of coal and steel by enterprises falling under the treaty of Paris. Details of the levy rate are as follows:

Percentage
1973–79 0.29
1980- 0.31

Separate figures on the amount raised each year by the levy on production from the British Steel Corporation and private sector steelmakers are not readily available.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many applications the Government have made since 1973 to the Commission of the European Communities under article 56.2.(b) of the treaty of Paris for workers in the steel industry; how many of their workers were employed in (a) British Steel Corporation works and (b) private steel works; and how much was received from the ECSC budget for each sector.

Mr. Atkins

Since 1973, the Government have applied for ECSC contributions towards aid to be given under the iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme in respect of some 129,000 projected redundancies in the steel industry. Of these, some 102,000 were in respect of employees of the British Steel Corporation, and some 27,000 in respect of employees of private sector steel companies. To date, 85,173 former employees of BSC and 23,112 former employees for private sector companies have registered to receive aid under the Scheme.

The ECSC contributes towards the cost of the scheme retrospectively, and to date the Government have received £158,255,862 towards aid paid to former steel employees. Of this, approximately 76 per cent. was in respect of former BSC employees, and approximately 24 per cent. in respect of former private sector employees.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been Britain's contribution each year since 1973 to the ECSC budget by way of the levy made on steel production.

Mr. Atkins

The ECSC annual financial report provides figures on the ECSC levy revenue, broken down by industry and member state, only since 1981. The latest available figures are for the year 1986. The figures are as follows:

Levy Revenue from the United Kingdom Steel Industry in ECU
Number
1981 11,122,803
1982 9,515,579
1983 12,661,061
1984 13,199,907
1985 13,838,549
1986 13,961,944