§ 85. Sir R. Robinsonasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Hawker Aircraft Company to withdraw the production of the Hunter aircraft from Blackpool to Kingston; whether he is aware that nearly 4.000 workers in Blackpool will become redundant on account of this decision; and what steps are to be taken to find alternative employment for them.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am aware of the firm's decision and, with my right hon. Friends, am in touch with the company on the future of the factory. The number of workers likely to become redundant is not known but is likely to be less than the figure given by my hon. Friend. My local officers will do everything they can to place workers in other employment and they are already interviewing workers in the factory, but as I told the House last week prospects in this locality are not good.