§ 34. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Aviation if he will state the number of contracts and sub-contracts placed in the North-East for the construction of aircraft and components, respectively, in the past 12 months by his Department and by private firms under Government arrangements.
§ Mr. J. AmeryNo aircraft contract has been placed by my Department in the North-East during the last twelve months. I know of no aircraft constructor in the area. Sub-contracting by Ministry contractors for components is the responsibility of the contractors themselves—the main contractors that is. They have been asked to consider Development District firms whenever possible, but we have no comprehensive records of the sub-contracts they place. I have no information about contracts placed by private firms.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn view of the unemployment situation in the North-East, with which the Minister must by now be quite familiar, has he made any attempt to find out whether there are firms in the North-East with skilled craftsmen capable of undertaking work of this character? Why should the North-East be completely neglected when it comes to the production of aircraft or their components?
§ Mr. AmeryI am not saying, nor would I accept for one moment, that we have neglected the North-East. I am saying that there is no firm of aircraft constructors which I know of in the area. The responsibility for the placing of subcontracts for components is with the main contractors with whom the Ministry places its contracts.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, will he make inquiries to ascertain whether there are firms in the area capable of undertaking the work?
§ Mr. AmeryIf there is a firm of aircraft constructors capable of undertaking Government contracts, I should be grateful if the right hon. Gentleman would draw my attention to it.