§ 80. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs he estimates are wholly dependent upon the Concorde project; and how many jobs in companies employed as sub-contractors on Concorde are dependent upon the Concorde project.
§ Mr. CorfieldAbout 17,500 people are at present employed on Concorde work at B.A.C. and Rolls-Royce, and an estimated further 8,500 at suppliers and sub-contractors.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that the delay in putting Concorde into full production has resulted in voluntary liquidation of Servonics Limited, and if he will seek to ensure that other Concorde sub-contractors are enabled to obtain sufficient credit to prevent similar liquidation.
§ Mr. CorfieldI understand that Servonics Limited was developing a Concorde engine systems trainer for Rolls-Royce. Since the only other likely customers for this trainer would be airline purchasers of Concorde, further release of Concorde production authorisations at the present time would not have affected the financial position of Servonics Ltd. As regards the second part of the question, the manufacturers have at present sufficient authorities to carry out the current production programme, including the placing of the necessary sub-contracts.