§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many former registered dock workers have been made redundant since the abolition of the dock labour scheme; how much the Government have contributed towards the redundancy payments; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinAs at 13 October, 3,938 former registered dock workers had been made redundant out of 9,221 on the register when the Scheme was abolished on 3 July. In accordance with the provision of the Dock Work 131W (Compensation Payments Scheme) Regulations 1989, the Department has contributed £78,760,050 towards the redundancy compensation payments. It is estimated that further payments will bring the total in 1989–90 to about £90 million.
Provision of £10 million was made in the summer supplementary estimate on class VIII, vote 3, and I shall be seeking parliamentary approval of a winter supplementary estimate on that Vote of a further £80 million for the compensation scheme.
The number of redundancies is far higher than had been expected, but clearly demonstrates that the overmanning in ports under the dock labour scheme was greater than had been realised. A major improvement in the efficiency of working methods in the ports is now taking place.