HC Deb 01 May 1969 vol 782 cc1611-2
48. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is now the estimated number of jobs which will be lost in Aberdeen city and county by the closure of the Inverurie Locomotive Works and by the delay in finding productive work in the alternative advance factories proposed for and in Inverurie.

Mr. Fernyhough

In addition to the advance factory announced for Inverurie, a number of inquiries from potential tenants of the workshops are still being pursued. Until the final outcome of these inquiries is known, it is not possible to estimate what, if any, will be the eventual job loss.

Mr. Hughes

Does not my hon. Friend realise that Inverurie is in a key position as regards the whole North-East of Scotland, including the City of Aberdeen, and that the mere promise of inquiries for advance factories is no answer for the wives and children of workers who are deprived of work by the closing of the locomotive works?

Mr. Fernyhough

My hon. and learned Friend need not remind me about the wives and children of unemployed people. All that I can say is that in the city which he represents there was a fall in unemployment last month, and I hope that that fall will continue.

Mr. David Steel

How many prospective tenants have visited the works at Inverurie in response to the Government's publicity effort?

Mr. Fernyhough

Quite a number. I will see that the appropriate Minister writes to the hon. Gentleman on that point.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Will the hon. Gentleman deal with the matter urgently, because nearly 600 jobs are due to disappear in a very few months, and the misfortune here is that unless there is alternative work, many of the men concerned may move away to other areas since they do not want to remain out of work?

Mr. Fernyhough

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will accept that we are dealing with it urgently. We are taking steps to interview all the men to discover their capabilities and capacities and to see how far we can fit them up with work within reasonable travelling distances. I hope that the fact that we have asked a number of firms to look at the works and the possibility of their being taken over will reveal that we are deeply interested in finding alternative employment for those who will lose their jobs when the workshops close.