§ 16. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to give special consideration, when placing contracts in connection with the modernisation programme of British Railways, to the needs of localities where there is present unemployment and unused production capacity.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir. The British Transport Commission must have regard to the experience of the suppliers and to the need to secure timely deliveries. Other things being equal, however, the Commission is always ready to consider placing orders in Development Areas or other places where unemployment presents a persistent problem and where suitable manufacturing facilities exist.
§ Miss BurtonWill the Minister see that the Government do something to give a little validity to their statement that they are prepared to help where unemployment has resulted because of their policy? Is the Minister aware that in Coventry we have several firms capable of building 422 diesel engines and railway carriages? Is he aware that the Daimler Company are about to quit a Government-owned factory owing to lack of orders, and that these premises would be suitable to be used in connection with the building of such engines and carriages? Does the right hon. Gentleman know that the Armstrong-Whitworth Aircraft Company will shortly have 600 workers turned off and that these people could do the work, and that sheds are available at Baginton? Will the Minister look at this matter again?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI will examine carefully what the hon. Lady has said, but my answer, which I gave with care, remains; that the Commission must have regard to the experience of suppliers and to the need to secure timely deliveries.