311
Written Answers
30 JUNE 1982
Falklands Operation (Chinese Seamen) Copes reve
Mr. Kilroy-Silk asked the Prime Minister why those Chinese sailors from Hong Kong who had been serving in the South Atlantic underwent immigration procedures on entry to the United Kingdom; and if she will ensure that such procedures are not in future applied to this group of seamen, in order to demonstrate Her Majesty's Government's appreciation of their work in the exclusion
zone.
The Prime Minister: As these sailors are not members of Her Majesty's Forces, they are subject to control under the Immigration Act 1971. However, they were not individually examined on their arrival and were admitted with the minimum of formality. The same will be done for any future arrivals.
Mr. Kilroy-Silk asked the Prime Minister how the financial arrangements of the next of kin of the Hong Kong Chinese sailors killed or wounded in the South Atlantic compare with those for (a) British Service men and (b) merchant seamen,
The Prime Minister: The lump sum compensation for the death or injury of Hong Kong Chinese Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel is the same as for United Kingdom merchant seamen, but no occupational pension will be provided since the Hong Kong Chinese were not members of a pension scheme. The lump sum is greater than for Service men of junior rank, but with the same proviso. Hong Kong Chinese embarked on Her Majesty's ships to provide laundry and similar services under contract were covered by private insurers indemnified by the Ministry of Defence.
Mr. Kilroy-Silk asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made to assist the families of those Chinese sailors from Hong Kong killed and injured in the South Atlantic.
The Prime Minister: Yes. Apart from the financial arrangements, welfare visits have been paid to all the next of kin and will be paid to the injured; and advice on money and other problems is being provided.
DATE 306.h
Public Sector Pay
Voc 26 Col 311 Mr. Ward asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the award of the Civil Service arbitration tribunal and the reports of the review bodies on the pay of the Armed Forces, the doctors and dentists and top salaries.
The Prime Minister [pursuant to her reply, 6 May 1982, c. 109-11]: Following the earlier acceptance in full of the recommendations of the eleventh report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, the Government have now decided to increase the pay of Service medical and dental officers by amounts averaging 5.8 per cent. from 1 April 1982 in accordance with recommendations contained in a supplementary report by the review body, which is published today as Cmnd. 8573. Copies are available in the Vote Office.
7 pag
Written Answers
INDUSTRY:
Min 020122
Government Grants
Mr. Kilroy-Silk asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how much in total of Government grant has
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been received by Imperial Metals Industries; ly
(2) what has been the total amount of Government' grants so far received by Yorkshire Imperial Metals, Kirkby.
Mr. Norman Lamont: Details of some forms of grant provided to individual companies are confidential and total figures cannot therefore be supplied.
Ethnic Minorities (Business Assistance)
Mr. Proctor asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has any plans to give special assistance to individuals from the ethnic minorities to set up new businesses and to expand existing businesses; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MacGregor: The Government have introduced many measures and have expanded their advisory services to help all small business men, including those from the ethnic minorities. Following discussions which the Secretary of State, my staff and I had with the banks, a number of banks have appointed specialist managers for inner urban areas, and this initiative may be of especial benefit to ethnic minority businesses. I maintain regular contact with the United Kingdom Caribbean chamber of commerce to discuss ways in which business men from the ethnic minorities might make fuller use of the help available.
Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments)
Mr. Skeet asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will improve payments under the shipbuilding redundancy payments scheme.
Mr. Norman Lamont: I shall shortly bring forward to the House an order proposing certain improvements to the scheme which are supported by BS and its unions. The proposals help particularly those under 40, whose benefits are limited to £300 under the present scheme, but there are also improvements for those over 40. I shall also be asking the House to prolong the scheme until June 1985. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will be proposing parallel changes to the scheme for Harland and Wolff.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Further and Higher Education
Mr. Jim Callaghan asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total expenditure of further and higher education in the United Kingdom outside the university sector; and how many students the various institutions are serving.
Mr. Waldegrave: In 1979-80, the latest date for which data are available, expenditure on further and higher education in the United Kingdom outside the university sector was £1,724 million. The numbers of students at the various institutions in the autumn of 1979 was as follows:
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