HC Deb 16 May 1989 vol 153 cc169-72W
46. Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in the port of London.

Mr. Nicholls

The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the decline in business and jobs in the port of London and in other ports covered by the scheme.

Non-oil cargo passing through the port of London area declined by 9 per cent. between 1970–1987, from 30.4 million tonnes to 27.7 million tonnes. The number of registered dock workers declined from 16,573 in 1970 to 1,739 in May 1989.

85. Mr. David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in Hull, Goole and Grimsby.

Mr. Nicholls

The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the declining share of business and jobs in the ports of Hull, Goole and Grimsby.

The growth in trade handled by ports on the south and east coasts outside the dock labour scheme has been Far greater than in the scheme ports, including Hull, Goole and Grimsby.

The number of registered dock workers in Hull, Goole and Grimsby fell from 4,470 in 1970 to 1,563 on 2 May 1989.

82. Mr. Evennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many dockers employed in dock labour scheme ports are aged 25–35 years, 35–45 years and over 45 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

The 1987 National Dock Labour Board annual report, the most recent available, provides the following information on the numbers of registered dock workers in each age group.

Age group Number of workers
25–35 693
35–45 3,200
Over 45 6,408

79. Dr. Woodcock

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in Liverpool.

Mr. Nicholls

The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the decline of business and jobs in the port of Liverpool and in other ports covered by the scheme.

Non-oil cargo passing through the port of Liverpool (including Garston) decreased from 16,464 tonnes in 1970 to 8,886 in 1987: a fall of 46 per cent. In the same period Heysham, a non-scheme, west coast port increased its traffic by over 300 per cent. The numbers of registered dock workers employed in Liverpool and Birkenhead has fallen from 10,449 in 1970 to 1,244 in April 1989.

67. Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many dockers were employed in dock labour scheme ports and in non-dock labour scheme ports in(a) 1959 and (b) 1989; and if he will make a statement.

89. Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many dockers were employed in dock labour scheme ports and non-dock labour scheme ports in 1959 and 1989; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

According to national dock labour board returns employment of registered dock workers in dock labour scheme ports declined from 71,846 in 1959 to 9,319 in May 1989. Figures for non-scheme ports over the same period are not available, but between 1983 and 1987 employment of dock workers in those ports rose by 10 per cent. to 3,900. A quarter of all dock workers are therefore now employed in non-scheme ports.

57. Mr. Hill

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in Southampton.

Mr. Nicholls

The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the declining share of business and jobs in the port of Southampton.

The growth in trade handled by ports on the south and east coasts outside the dock labour scheme has been far greater than for scheme ports such as Southampton.

The number of registered dock workers in Southampton has dropped by 66 per cent., from 1,944 in 1970 to 681 in April 1989.

58. Mr. Robert B. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme.

Mr. Nicholls

Since 1970, the number of registered dock workers has declined from 45,542 to 9,310—a drop of 79 per cent. Between 1967 and 1987, the share of the United Kingdom market held by non-scheme ports increased from 10 per cent. to nearly 30 per cent. of a smaller total tonnage.

The dock labour scheme has contributed to the declining share of business and jobs in the ports in which it operates.

59. Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to discuss the reintroduction of casual labour into dock labour scheme ports with the National Association of Port Employers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

Arrangements following the abolition of the Dock Labour Scheme are a matter for employers and dock workers in the ports concerned, as is already the case for other workers in those ports and dock workers in ports outside the scheme. My right hon. Friend has no plans to enter into discussions with those concerned.

Employers of 93 per cent. of dock workers in scheme ports have given assurances not to return to a system of casual work. I understand that they have indicated a willingness to examine this and other issues on a port by port basis.

60. Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations has he received on his White Paper, "Employment in the Ports, the Dock Labour Scheme"; and if he will make a statement.

53. Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on his plans to abolish the dock labour scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

I have received a number of such representations. The abolition of the dock labour scheme will lead to increased investment and employment opportunities in British ports and ports areas, and has been welcomed by all sectors of industry.

95. Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the past operation of the dock labour scheme in Immingham and Grimsby.

Mr. Nicholls

The restrictions of the dock labour scheme have contributed to the declining share of business and jobs in the port of Grimsby and Immingham.

The growth in trade handled by ports on the south and east coasts outside the dock labour scheme has been far greater than for scheme ports such as Grimsby and Immingham. The number of registered dock workers in Grimsby and Immingham fell from 1,344 in 1970 to 684 in May 1989.