Lear Fan Ltd. (Hansard, 4 June 1984)

§ Mr. Peter Archer (Warley, West)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 10, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the intentions of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the future of the Lear Fan project. You will be aware, Mr. Speaker, of the proposal by Lear Fan Ltd. to produce an exciting carbon fibre aircraft in Antrim. The company has assembled a work force of 380, with a wide range of skills, and it was announced that in due course the project would probably mean employment for 2,800 people. The Government have committed £52 million of public money to the project, and there was general agreement that it was an investment well worth making if they were satisfied that it would produce the required results. Production was due to begin in September.

On 31 May, last Thursday, the chairman of Lear Fan Ltd., Mr. Burch, announced that there were problems with the development programme in Nevada and that, in consequence, there was no prospect of receiving the United States certificate of airworthiness before February of next year. The company is therefore proposing that on 1 July it will lay off the entire work force indefinitely, with the exception of 20 to 30 people, chiefly concerned with maintenance and security. The dismantling of the work force is a serious matter, not only for those who will be relegated to the dole queue but because it has inevitably raised questions about the future of the whole project.

If the matter rested there, the House and the people of Northern Ireland would wish to question the Government 20 about the steps that they are taking to preserve the prospect of future jobs and the substantial investment of public money. There is, however, another reason for anxiety, because, if he was reported accurately, the chairman seized the opportunity to declare that, public investment or not, and contrary to the understanding of all of us, the company is not committed to producing completed aircraft in Northern Ireland, but only certain components. That raises questions about the commitments obtained by the Government from the company as a condition of advancing substantial sums of money. Presumably the Government did not intend to finance employment in Nevada.

There is no question but that this is a specific matter and that it is extremely important for the people of Northern Ireland. I submit that it should have the Houses's urgent consideration before the company is allowed to proceed further on any unchallenged assumptions and before any decisions that would prejudice the future of the enterprise are taken. The people of Northern Ireland are looking to the House to question the Government on these matters, and that is why I ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House.