HC Deb 01 March 1954 vol 524 cc836-7
43. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is now able to make a statement concerning redundancy at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Llanishen, Cardiff.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Duncan Sandys)

As was foreshadowed in my reply to the hon. Member on 25th January, lack of suitable orders has unfortunately made it necessary to reduce the labour force at this factory by 135, of whom 116 have already left.

Mr. Thomas

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of those workers are skilled workers and what steps he proposes to take in order to see that this skilled labour shall not be lost in Cardiff?

Mr. Sandys

I could not give those figures without notice. The difficulty, as the hon. Member knows, has arisen from the fact that we have received fewer Army vehicles for reconditioning than was expected. Every effort was made to find suitable alternative employment but, unfortunately, we were unsuccessful.

Mr. Thomas

Is not the Minister willing to indicate that he is taking steps to provide full employment for these skilled people at the R.O.F. at Llanishen? What is he going to do about that?

Mr. Sandys

As the hon. Member knows, Government-owned factories, like privately-owned factories, are dependent upon orders.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Does the right hon. Gentleman try to get orders for peaceful goods?

Mr. Sandys

That is a much wider question.