asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that a significant number of regular employees of local authorities engaged in road works have been laid off, or placed on short time, as a direct result of insufficient funds for normal works, that the cash flow of several local authorities has been reduced as a result of delayed collection of rates and that local authorities who have not yet commenced to lay off employees have invited unions to consider if short time would be regarded as a more acceptable option than lay-offs; and if he will state the nature of the corrective measures, if any, which have been notified to local authorities generally in view of Clause 4 of the national understanding.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Road Workers.
420.
Decisions on the employment of road workers are made by individual local authorities having regard to all relevant circumstances. Returns made by road authorities to my Department show that average monthly employment to end September was 11,035. This compares with an average in 1975 of 10,552 and in 1976 of 9,540. Road grants totalling £58.46 million have been allocated to road authorities in the current year. This includes supplementary grants amounting to £5.38 million which were allocated in pursuance of the Government's undertaking in the national understanding to maintain and stimulate employment.
Returns of rate collection made to my Department at the end of September, the latest date for which completed returns are available, show that while collection is down in some areas as compared to 1979, there was an improvement in other areas.