§ Mr. MayhewI beg to present a humble Petition signed by 11,704 persons, including the joint trade union committee of A.E.I. representing staff and manual workers of A.E.I., traders, shopkeepers, residents and employees of industry of many London boroughs, Harlow New Town, towns and boroughs in the Home Counties and also Hartlepools, Coventry, Manchester and Rugby.
The Petition says that the signatories view with alarm the present employment situation in the South-East London area and especially in the London Borough of Greenwich which is also faced with the possible influx of some thousands of workers because of the developments at Thamesmead and Kidbrooke. The petitioners object most strongly to the attitude of the General Electric Company and its decision to close the A.E.I. factories in the Woolwich group and they call upon the Government to take all necessary steps to enable the factories to remain open as telecommunications equipment factories and so retain the present teams of skilled workers.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your House will give urgent consideration to these matters.
§ To lie upon the Table.