HC Deb 06 May 1963 vol 677 cc25-6
39. Mr. Eden

asked the Minister of Aviation which firms are engaged in the manufacture of aircraft and aircraft equipment for South Africa.

Mr. Marten

At least fifty companies are engaged on this work. It is not the practice to list the names of companies engaged on defence contracts whether for Her Majesty's Government or for other countries.

Mr. Eden

Does my hon. Friend know how many employees are involved or what is the value of the current contracts? Will he agree that the pronouncement of the Leader of the Opposition has already done considerable damage to the British aircraft industry and, in fact, it is quite impossible to replace these orders with others from elsewhere?

Mr. Marten

The last part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question opens up very wide issues. Confining myself to the Question on the Order Paper, I would say that it is not our practice to disclose the value of defence contracts placed by other Governments. As regards the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, the total number employed by the aircraft firms concerned is about 135,000. The work involved in these orders is equivalent to a year's employment for about 25,000 people, of whom about 13,000 are in the aircraft industry, 4,000 in the electronics industry and 8,000 in other ancillary industries.

Mr. Lee

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is no evidence whatever that, as a result of anything said from this side of the House, a single person would be unemployed in the aircraft industry? Further, is he aware that the issues raised in South Africa are of enormous conse- quence in the relationship of the white and coloured world and that, if the party opposite wishes to associate itself with apartheid and all it stands for, the British people will judge accordingly?

Mr. Marten

As regards the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I gave my answer in reply to the supplementary question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bourne-mouth, West (Mr. Eden). As regards the second part, I share with the hon. Gentleman an equal dislike of apartheid