§ 54. Mr. Ronald Bellasked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the proposed reduction in activity at the Rotax factory in Beaconsfield; and what action he will take to help the employment position there by the placing of defence orders.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesI am aware of this firm's plans which involve the transfer of some work from its Beaconsfield factory to its factory at Hemel Hempstead. This is a measure of rationalisation which has become necessary, in the firm's judgment, because of the decline in military aircraft work. As regards the second part of the Question, I can place defence orders only to meet the stated requirements of the Services.
§ Mr. BellDoes my right hon. Friend not think it desirable that all manufacturing capacity for aircraft components should be fully used so far as possible, and is he doing everything he can to encourage the use of British components in aircraft manufactured abroad?
§ Mr. JonesThe answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is most certainly "Yes". Having regard to all that, however, one cannot, none the less, blink one's eye to the fact that the contraction in the demand for military aircraft does entail redundancies.