§ Mr. BellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on the efficiency and reliability of the ports industry of the abolition of the dock labour scheme;
(2) when he proposes to publish a report on the effectiveness of the abolition of the dock labour scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthThe results of an initial assessment of the effects of abolition were published in an article in the July 1990 issue of theEmployment Gazette. Further assessment had to wait until the effects of abolition of the scheme had fully worked themselves through the port industry. Earlier this year my right hon. and learned Friends the Secretarys of State for Transport and Employment commissioned MDS-Transmodal and Pieda plc to carry out a more comprehensive study to assess the economic effects of abolition of the dock scheme and to examine the extent to which abolition had met its objectives. Changes in efficiency, reliability and quality of service will necessarily be examined.
The final report is expected to be completed about the end of next year. I would expect the main findings to be published shortly afterwards.