HC Deb 23 May 1960 vol 624 cc35-7
44. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware that an Friday, 13th May, 150 workers at Stevenage received their redundancy notices from De Havillands, that a further 150 will have left by 3rd June, that the future of others is unsettled, and that unemployment also threatens those employed by Sperry's at Bracknell; and if he will slow down the cancellation of orders in relation to the Blue Streak missile to avoid industrial hardship.

Mr. Sandys

The facts are substantially as stated in the first part of the Question. As regards the second part, it would not be right for me to expend public funds on work which is no longer needed.

Mr. Rankin

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that many of the employees to whom I refer in my Question have come from Scotland? There the Government have given them only unemployment and they come to these places in the south of England where they are promised employment and receive the same as they got in Scotland —unemployment. As that is the result of Government policy and the policy of the right hon. Gentleman, what is he proposing to do about the men whom he is causing to be unemployed?

Mr. Sandys

I am afraid that I have no information of the extent to which men working at Bracknell came from Scotland. The purpose of providing these new towns round London is to relieve congestion in the Metropolitan area and not primarily to find employment for people from Scotland. Be that as it may, I am naturally extremely sympathetic to the difficulties which have arisen for these people wherever they may be and from wherever they may have come.

Mr. H. Wilson

Is the Minister aware that some of these workers have been living in these houses for only a matter of a few months with the assurance of continued full employment? Since, for political reasons, he continued expenditure on the Blue Streak missile for very much longer than most people thought necessary, will he now consider whether, having regard to the possibility of new developments providing re-employment for these workers in perhaps a few weeks' time, it would not be a matter of economy for the Government, as well as to the firm, to slow down this process of unemployment and see whether there is going to be more work, by sub-contract or in other ways, for these workers?

Mr. Sandys

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I feel quite confident there is no intention on the part of the firm to get rid of the men if there is a foreseeable prospect of employing them within, as he suggested, a very short time. The people who are being discharged at the moment are those for whom there is no foreseeable prospect of employment in that firm.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Can my right hon. Friend say how soon an announcement will be made about the use of Blue Streak as a vehicle in cosmic research? Is he aware that the French have fired a four-stage rocket? Would it not be very curious indeed if this country allowed France to maintain an irrevocable lead over us in this new science?

Mr. Sandys

I do not think there is any question of this country allowing France to have a lead in this new science, as my hon. Friend says. A decision will be announced as soon as possible, but there are quite a number of matters which have to be examined.

Mr. Rankin

Does the Minister recollect that, in reply to me, he stated from the Dispatch Box that his new policy in aviation would produce more employment and, as a result, people came to these places looking for employment, but now he is giving them unemployment? What is he going to do about it? He made a promise.

Mr. Sandys

I do not think the numbers of people employed at Sperry's at Bracknell has been affected by any statements I made in the last few months. This labour force has been in existence a great deal longer than that.

Mr. van Straubenzee

While appreciating that my right hon. Friend has given very personal consideration to this matter, may I ask if he will continue to keep in the forefront of his mind that when it is a matter of a new town men have not only moved their skills but have also moved their lives?

Mr. Sandys

I am very conscious of that.

Mr. J. Griffiths

When, or immediately after, he makes decisions on policy which are likely to affect the employment of people in the service of companies working for his Ministry, does the right hon. Gentleman consult the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Labour about the possibility of providing alternative work? We have had experience of decisions subsequently affecting men and communities because of lack of co-ordination between Ministers.

Mr. Sandys

I do not think there can be criticism on those grounds. I have been in the closest touch with the Minister of Labour and the President of the Board of Trade on this matter. Not only are we doing what we can in the ordinary course of events to try to help these men to get employment, but I am trying to take what steps I myself can to find them work within the sphere of Government orders to bring subcontracting work to these factories.