§ Q6. Mr. Rowlandasked the Prime Minister whether he will now seek a further meeting with the chairmen and managing directors of the aircraft companies to ensure that factory closures and redundancies take place in areas where alternative work is available.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation will continue to keep in touch with those concerned.
§ Mr. RowlandWill my right hon. Friend ensure that the Government bear in mind that even in areas of full employment like Coventry there are 1475 categories of employees who will find difficulty in finding work and that their case demands particular attention from employers and Government?
§ The Prime MinisterAs my hon. Friend knows, the Government set up a Committee to deal urgently with the question of the redeployment of those whose livelihood and jobs will be affected by changes in the aircraft procurement programme, and this has already had a major effect in the areas concerned. While what my hon. Friend says is true, I do not think that the situation requires any changes in our present practice—the work of the Committee to which I referred and of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and the fact that the Minister of Aviation is keeping in close touch with the employers concerned.