§ 28. Mr. Callaghanasked the President of the Board of Trade what assistance has been offered by his Department to facilitate the taking over of the Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited tools factory at Cardiff by another industrial undertaking.
§ Sir D. EcclesMy Department is in touch with the company and will do its best to help to find another occupier for the factory.
§ Mr. CallaghanI am much obliged to the President of the Board of Trade, but I do not think that the working people who are about to become unemployed will be satisfied with a general assurance. Can he say whether there are any specific firms with whom he is bringing this factory into contact so that the skilled workers there need not be lost to the enterprise?
§ Sir D. EcclesI quite appreciate what the hon. Gentleman says about the skilled workmen. The announcement was made only on 21st February, and we have not had much time.
§ Mr. CallaghanIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the factory is due to close at the end of March, so that not much time has been given to anybody? May I ask him again whether there are any specific firms—has he any hope—with whom he can put this factory in touch?
§ Sir D. EcclesIf I have any such information, I will write to the hon. Gentleman; but he must remember that in South-West Wales the need is even greater.
§ Mr. CallaghanIs not the President of the Board of Trade aware that Cardiff is not in South-West Wales? It is the capital of the Principality and it is in South-East Wales.
§ Sir D. EcclesI thought that the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan), a representative from Cardiff, would know something about the troubles in the rest of the Principality.