HC Deb 22 April 1964 vol 693 cc1283-4
25. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive the Report of the Royal Arsenal Review Committee; and whether he intends to publish it.

Mr. Ramsden

I expect to receive the Interim Report of the Woolwich Review Committee shortly. It will not be published.

Mr. Mayhew

Is the Under-Secretary aware that the Minister of Housing and Local Government has at last set up the machinery for the comprehensive development of this whole area? What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the decisions of this Review Committee are co-ordinated with the ideas of the planning authorities?

Mr. Ramsden

I shall certainly be in touch with my right hon. Friend. The position is that we shall have this interim Report, which will be a useful first step and which will contain broad conclusions about possible future Government activity in the area. Final deci- sions about the overall development will be taken by Ministers after every aspect of redevelopment, including that in which the hon. Member is interested, has been considered.

Mr. Lubbock

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that local branches of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, drawing workers from a much wider area than solely the constituency of the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew), are very anxious about the future employment of their members in the whole area? Will the Report take these matters into account?

Mr. Ramsden

I have been in touch with the unions through the War Department Industrial Council about all the considerations affecting their interest.