§ 75. Mr. Kirbyasked the Secretary of State for Air whether the fact that aircraft being purchased by His Majesty's Government from the Lockheed Aircraft Company, of California, are being delivered to the aircraft factory at Speke, Liverpool, for assembly will necessitate any extension of the existing factory; and how many persons is it estimated will be employed on this special work of assembly?
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Kingsley Wood)The present intention is that the aircraft in question shall be assembled in the Liverpool Municipal hangars and workshop, so that the question of extending the Speke factory does not arise in this connection. As regards the last part of the question, the erection and testing of the machines will be carried out by local labour under the supervision of staff from the makers' works. I am not able to say precisely how much labour will be required.
§ 76. Mr. Kirbyasked the Secretary of Slate for Air how many persons are employed at the aircraft factory at Speke, Liverpool, and how the present number compares with that of last year; what percentage of those employed are natives of Liverpool; and what classes of labour, if any, are now required at this factory?
§ Sir K. WoodAbout 80 per cent. of those employed in the aircraft factory at Speke come from Liverpool. The factory opened in February last and is still being built up to full capacity. For these purposes additional labour is being steadily recruited from the trades normally required for airframe production such as fitters, assemblers, rivetters and the like. I regret that I cannot give figures as to the total number employed or to be em- 302 ployed as it would not be in the public interest to do so.