HC Deb 26 November 1962 vol 668 cc3-5
2. Mr. McMaster

asked the Minister of Aviation whether, in view of the rapidly deteriorating employment position in Northern Ireland, he will consider placing a contract for research and development work with Short Bros. and Harland, in order to avoid redundancy in its essential design sections.

Mr. J. Amery

As the House is aware, Short Bros. and Harland has an existing programme of research and development work for the Government, including the Belfast and the Seacat guided missile. The placing of any further contracts must depend upon decisions about future requirements, notably for the replacement of the Hastings and Beverley.

Mr. McMaster

Again I thank my right hon. Friend for that Answer. Will he bear in mind that two projects pioneered at Short Bros. and Harland, namely, the vertical take-off aircraft and the variable geometry aircraft, are being developed in France and America but appear to be neglected in this country?

Mr. Amery

There is a later Question about the vertical take-off aircraft. With regard to Short Bros. and Harland's variant of this, the SC.1, I have nothing to add to what I said to my hon. Friend on 19th October.

Mr. Loughlin

Will the Minister recognise that the situation in Northern Ireland should be dealt with with extreme urgency? Will he look closely at this matter to see whether work can be put into this factory as a matter of extreme urgency?

Mr. Amery

I assure the hon. Member that I am well aware of the gravity of the situation. One of the very first things I did when I became Minister of Aviation was to go to Belfast to see the Short situation myself, and I heard much of the debate the other night in which hon. Members representing Northern Ireland explained to the House the importance of the situation.

9. Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will lay before Parliament an annual White Paper stating Her Majesty's Government's policy on the future of Short Brothers and Harland in the light of past achievement.

Mr. J. Amery

No. Sir. Although the Government has a 70 per cent. shareholding in Short Brothers and Harland, there are also private shareholders. In these circumstances, the laying of an annual White Paper would not be appropriate.

Mr. Stratton Mills

Does my right hon. Friend feel that the present position is entirely satisfactory? Has he any alternative proposals so as to give a greater sense of direction to this firm?

Mr. Amery

The position is, no doubt, satisfactory as far as the information that is available is concerned. What none of us is satisfied with, neither my hon. Friend nor myself, is the practical situation confronting the Government.

Mr. Hale

Will the Minister bear in mind fiat the aircraft industry has submitted to a number of amalgamations on the basis that they would provide much more continuity of Government contracts and of employment, that we make aeroplanes in Oldham and that there is now a higher degree of unemployment in Oldham than there has been since 1952? Will the Minister bear in mind the whole question of unemployment, both in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, in relation to a consideration of the contracts, and bear in mind, too, the necessity of keeping the skilled workers there and not losing them if employment falls?

Mr. Amery

As I said in answer to an earlier Question, I must have regard to the overall picture.

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