51. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Supply what consideration was given by his Department to the possibilities of developing the production of civil goods before making workers redundant at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green.
§ 54. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Supply what capital expenditure has been undertaken to improve the Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green, in the last three years; and to what extent the machinery installed is suitable for the production of civil goods.
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§ Mr. Ian HarveyThis factory has recently been equipped with plant for the manufacture of new types of ammunition. Capital expenditure for this and other purposes during the last three years has been just over £1 million and the factory will be well employed on Service orders at its reduced strength for as long as I can foresee at present. The plant is specialised and not suitable for the production of civil goods.
52 and 53. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Supply (1) how many workers have been made redundant at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green, in the last two months; why this action was taken; and what steps have been taken by his Department to find alternative employment for these people;
(2) what is his estimate of redundancy at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green, for the first three months of 1957; and what action he proposes to take to ensure re-employment of the people so affected.
§ 55. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Supply what action was taken by his Department, before making workers redundant at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green, to ascertain that there was alternative employment for them in the locality.
§ 56. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Supply what action is taken by his Department before making workers in Royal Ordnance Factories redundant to ascertain that alternative employment exists for them in their locality.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyFive hundred and seventy workpeople will eventually be redundant at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Radway Green, because of a reduction in Service requirements. Two hundred and eighty-one employees have already left the factory and the remaining 289 will leave during the next three months. The workpeople concerned and the local officers of the Ministry of Labour and National Service are given as long notice as possible.
§ 57. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Supply to what extent redundancy at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green, is due to the introduction of labour-saving machinery, 96W reduction in the arms programme, the placing of contracts with private firms or other causes, respectively.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyThe redundancy at this factory is due solely to a reduction in Service requirements of ammunition.
§ 58. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Supply how many workers were engaged at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green, in former years on the manufacture of goods for civilian consumption; what type of goods were manufactured; and to what extent it is now proposed to avoid redundancy by using plant and workers for this type of manufacture again.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyAt the beginning of 1948 about 1,000 workpeople were engaged on civil work, almost entirely on the manufacture of gas and electric cookers. It is not proposed to resume that type of work. The present plant is not suitable for it and will, in any case, continue to be used on Service orders.