HC Deb 24 March 1959 vol 602 cc1113-4
40. Mr. Rankin

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, as a result of his investigation, he will now say whether one or both of the factories used by Wickman, Limited, Hillington, will be closed.

Mr. J. Rodgers

I understand that the firm announced last Friday that the factory at Hillington is to be closed over the next few months, but that the factory at North Cardonald will continue in production.

Mr. Rankin

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, last night, speaking in Glasgow to the people of Scotland, the Lord Chancellor stated that the Government would use all their powers to deal with unemployment in Scotland? Now that the hon. Gentleman is being given his chance to deal with threatened unemployment in Hillington, will he tell us what steps he proposes to take in order to keep these men at work?

Mr. Rodgers

We shall do our best, of course to try to find jobs for these redundant workers, and use the powers which we have at the present moment. We are advertising the five existing empty factories in Scotland.