§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he now has for the maintenance of current standards of enforcement of health and safety arrangements in scheme ports in the United Kingdom in the event of the termination of the current scheme for employment of dock labour.
§ Mr. NichollsPrimary responsibility for health and safety at work lies with employers and others in the workplace. Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive have enforcement powers to ensure that
Change in civilian employment 1959 to 1973 1973 to 1979 1979 to 1988 Thousands Per cent. Thousands Per cent. Thousands Per cent. United Kingdom 936 3.9 364 1.5 817 3.3 Germany 842 3.3 -896 -3.4 1,248 4.9 France 2,192 11.7 442 2.1 -161 -0.8 Italy -981 -4.9 1,051 5.5 775 3.9 Japan 9,240 21.3 2,200 4.2 5,320 9.7 United States 20,434 31.6 13,760 16.2 16,144 16.3 Sources: ED for UK and OECD for other countries.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in theOfficial Report (a) the number of unemployed who have not worked for at least a year and (b) the number who last worked in manufacturing industry by full-time, part-time, sex and adult status.
1040Wemployers comply with their duties under health and safety legislation, which applied in scheme and non-scheme ports alike. The abolition of the dock labour scheme has not affected these arrangements.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he now intends to take to ensure that current arrangements for determining remuneration and conditions of service in non-scheme ports shall be continued in the event of the termination of the present dock labour scheme.
§ Mr. NichollsThe dock labour scheme was abolished by the Dock Work Act 1989 which came into effect on 3 July. Arrangements for settling the terms and conditions of employment in all British ports are a matter for the employers directly concerned and their employees.