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Written Answers
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20 MAY 1986
Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department gives to British scientists about the formality and substance of contacts they have with Eastern bloc scientists on nuclear energy matters.
Mr. Waldegrave [pursuant to his reply, 19 May 1986]: None in general, but special procedures govern meetings between British scientists employed by my Department and representatives of Eastern bloc countries.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Hong Kong
Sir Paul Bryan asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the state of private and public housing in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar: The provision of housing remains of priority commitment for the Hong Kong Government, whose aim is to ensure that every family eventually has a permanent, self-contained home, at a rent or price it can afford. To this end, about one third of its total annual capital expenditure and one tenth of recurrent expenditure
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Written Answers
Mr. Trippier: There are no plans to increase the £25 per person per day payable under the local training grants to employers scheme.
ACAS (Code)
5. Mr. Janner asked the Paymaster General when he expects the revised Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service code to be laid before Parliament.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has not set a precise timetable for publishing its revised code of practice on disciplinary and other procedures in employment. Comments on the draft code were requested by 28 February 1986 and the service is currently studying those received.
In due course, the draft code will be submitted to Ministers for approval, before being laid before Parliament.
Young Workers Scheme
11. Mr. Corbyn, asked the Paymaster General what proportion of people employed under the young workers scheme have retained their job after 12 months. is devoted to public housing. The Government-sponsored (1,853 Cult for my Department, suggested that M. Kan furvey of the young workers scheme in
Conducted housing authority has a subsidised public housin programme which aims to produce annually over 4860IVEmployers Expected at least 90 per cent. of young workers would gen6in their current job beyond the period of eligibility for young workers scheme support. We recently Commissioned further research in this area to test how many young people are actually retained.
flats (30,000 for rental and 10,000 for ownership). In 1985, they constructed a record 49,724 such flats In-. addition to quantity, the authority places emphasis on ESK steadily improving the quality of new public housing Ex redeveloping existing stock. At present 2·6 million people, or about 47 per cent. of the population, live in public housing.
The private sector produced some 30,000 units of accommodation in 1985 and production of about 33,000 units is expected in 1986.
Demand for both public and private housing continues to exceed supply, and outstanding demand for public rental flats alone is estimated to be over 330,000 units. Assuming no untoward occurrences and maintenance of current production targets, the bulk of this rental demand should be met by the mid-1990s.
Petty Officer John Black
Mr. Latham asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised with Spanish Ministers or officials the case of the late Petty Officer John Black during the recent state visit of the King and Queen of Spain; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar: This case was not raised during the recent state visit. At that time we were aware that a reply from the Spanish judicial authorities was on its way to the Spanish Foreign Ministry, although we did not know its precise terms. A formal reply has now been received through Her Majesty's embassy in Madrid and its contents have been conveyed to my hon. Friend in writing.
EMPLOYMENT
Training Grants
4. Mr. Tom Cox asked the Paymaster General what plans he has to increase the present weekly amount paid in training grants.
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Small Businesses
16. Mr. Rowe asked the Paymaster General what plans he has to promote the use of flexible and distance learning to meet the training needs of the small business
sector.
Mr. Trippier: I am anxious to encourage all forms of training to meet the needs of the small business sector, and the Manpower Services Commission, as an integral part of the adult training strategy, is exploring the use of flexible and distance learning in depth.
Already the MSC's open tech programme has commissioned open learning material specifically to meet the training needs of supervisors and managers in the small business sector whilst under its training for enterprise scheme it is currently investigating the potential of open learning as a medium for teaching skills necessary for the management of small businesses.
Greater London
17. Mr. Marlow asked the Paymaster General how many unemployed people there are under 25 years of age within Greater London.
Mr. Lang: On 9 January 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of unemployed persons aged under 25 years in Greater London was 142,469.
Employment Committee (Report)
18. Mr. Dixon asked the Paymaster General what practical measures he intends to pursue following the Government's response to the Employment Committee report on special employment measures and the long-term
DATE unemployed.
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