HC Deb 12 February 1968 vol 758 cc917-9
2. Mr. Corfield

asked the Minister of Technology, what redundancies have resulted from the recent cancellation of Buccaneer aircraft for the Royal Navy; and what proposals he has to ensure a more stable employment position in the aircraft industry.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Technology (Mr. John Stonehouse)

Hawker Siddeley Aviation has announced that about 1,000 men will become redundant in the next few months at Brough. It has since been announced that these redundancies will be reduced to about 500 men. Employment in the aircraft industry has been fairly stable for the last three years, and the industry has a substantial forward programme of work.

Mr. Corfield

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that that is really an argument for hastening the review of R.A.F. requirements? Is it not time, for example, that we had a firm production contract for the Harrier, among other things?

Mr. Stonehouse

There is a firm contract for the R.A.F. programme now arranged. The actual agreement on production of the Harrier has not been fixed, although we have been trying to reach agreement with the firm on contract provisions for some time.

The main matter raised in the Question is employment stability. I can say without fear of contradiction that there has been more employment stability in the aircraft industry over the last three years than in any other similar period since the end of the war.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Would not employment stability in this firm and industry be greatly improved if the Government would reconsider the ban on the export of Buccaneers to South Africa? Now that they have decided to authorise the export of handcuffs, will they not permit the export of Buccaneers, which are much less effective weapons of oppression?

Mr. Stonehouse

I do not think that it would affect the position to a great extent. What has happened in the last three years is that the Government have given priority to production for civil aircraft and less emphasis on defence employment, with the result that the long-term stability of the aircraft industry has been endorsed. If right hon. and hon. Members opposite will look back to the figures during the period of their Administration, they will notice that in the three years to 1960 the reduction of men employed in the aircraft industry was 21,000, in the three years to 1964 the reduction was 37,000, and in the last three years the reduction, depending on the month of comparison, has been between only 3,000 and 6,000 men.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Questions and answers can be too long.