§ 9. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she intends to take to ensure that the 300 workers made redundant at Messrs. Hobsons, Wolverhampton, are found suitable alternative employment with the minimum delay.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Employment and Productivity (Mr. Edmund Dell)I am informed that the final termination date of this redundancy is 27th February. A team of my officers has already visited the factory and interviewed all those concerned who wanted advice or help in finding work. My officers have also made special approaches to employers likely to be interested in the labour becoming available. It is expected that most of those affected will find suitable jobs without much difficulty and indeed about 100 have already done so.
§ Mrs. ShortI am obliged to my hon. Friend for telling me what I already knew; namely, that his Department in Wolverhampton would go to the greatest lengths to try to find new jobs for men made redundant.
§ Mrs. ShortIs my hon. Friend aware that I do not share his complacency in the latter part of his reply? Does he appreciate that today I have had a telephone message to say that another 400 men, in another of the largest employing firms in my constituency, have been declared redundant today—[Interruption.]—and that in the Hobsons case many of these men are skilled men? What is he going to do about it?[Interruption.]—Be quiet, you lot. This is serious business. Shut up.
§ Mr. DellMy hon. Friend's Question related to one redundancy, where we hope that those involved will speedily secure other work. My hon. Friend now gives me details of another redundancy, and we shall certainly assist in that case in every way we can. It is true that there is little difficulty in this area for a skilled person to find a job.