HC Deb 15 April 1948 vol 449 cc1162-3
46. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the staff of Miles Aircraft Factory at Woodley have, since September, 1947, been registered as unemployed for more than a fortnight; and how many of those registering have been advised to take posts outside the Reading area.

Mr. Isaacs

Of the persons previously employed by Miles Aircraft Ltd. at present registering for employment at the Reading local office, 123 men have been unemployed for two weeks or more; 46 are unwilling to accept work away from home, and 17 of the remainder have been submitted to jobs away from the area. It is not possible to identify registrations at other local offices without a disproportionate amount of work.

Mr. Hurd

Is there a prospect of other light engineering work being found for these men in the Reading area?

Mr. Isaacs

I really could not say about the prospects in that area, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that every step will be taken to put these men into touch with jobs without their having to leave home.

Mr. Mikardo

Can my right hon. Friend say whether this position will be aggravated by the new arrangement reached by this company, whereby they will be transferring their aircraft contracts to another manufacturer, and, if so, is he confident that he can absorb a reasonable proportion of the new people who will be displaced by that transfer?

Mr. Isaacs

Those are two hypothetical questions. If my hon. Friend will put them down I will try to answer them.

Mrs. Leah Manning

Can my right hon. Friend tell me whether all the ex-Service trainees at this aircraft factory have been absorbed into other training centres?

Mr. Isaacs

Not without notice of the question.