§ 2. Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what notification of anticipated redundancies in the Homchurch area has been received; and what the figures are for the number of known redundancies that have already occurred this year.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Dudley Smith)Redundancies involving 270 workpeople are recorded by my Department as having been due to occur in the Homchurch area in the period up to and including 30th June. I have no information on the precise number who may be involved in future redundancies in the area.
§ Mr. LoveridgeMy constituents will appreciate my hon. Friend's concern, but is he aware of their anxiety at the proposed closure of the Plessey factory at Cranham? As there are still more people unemployed than there are vacancies in the area, will my hon. Friend give every assistance to his local office to find new jobs for my constituents as good as the ones they are losing?
§ Mr. SmithYes, Sir, I give my hon. Friend that assurance. The firm has undertaken to inform my Department as 218 soon as the details and the number of the impending redundancies are known. We shall do everything we can to help. Myhon. Friend may be interested to know that the majority of those in his area who have been made redundant this year and who have sought my Department's help have been successful' in obtaining other employment.