§ 12. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the unemployment which will result in railway workshops from the cuts made in the British Transport Commission's modernisation programme; and what steps he is taking to find employment for those rendered redundant.
§ Mr. HareIt is too early to assess how far, if at all, production in particular railway workshops will be affected by the level of railway investment in 1961.
§ Mr. BoydenIn view of the very alarming rumours circulating in Shildon and Darlington about the railway workshops, will the Minister give a categorical assurance that the promise that stability of employment in these shops will be maintained until 1963 still holds good?
Will he give another assurance that if, after 1963, there has to be some decline in the amount of work, then, in consultation with the President of the Board of Trade, he will see that steps are taken to deal with the redundancy?
§ Mr. HareIt is impossible to assess how far particular railway shops will be affected by the level of railway investment. I can assure the hon. Member—and I have a direct responsibility for this—that there is the closest co-operation between the British Transport 631 Commission and my Ministry and that we are given advance notice if there are redundancies. We are given plenty of time to assist in placing those who are affected.