§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish in the Official Report the proposed terms and conditions of employment for the proposed new managing director of Harland and Wolff Limited, Belfast, indicating in all cases where this new contract differs from the terms arranged 392W with Shipbuilding Services, SA, of Switzerland.
§ Mr. OrmeNo. My hon. Friend will have seen that an indication of the salary to be paid was given in the advertisement in the newspapers. The other terms and conditions of employment will be a matter of commercial confidence, although it has been made clear to the company that they must be acceptable to the Government.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the sum of money paid by Harland and Wolff Limited to Shipbuilding Services, SA, for the services of Mr. Hoppe at the time of his dismissal from his post of managing director of the yard:
(2) how many persons, apart from Mr. Hoppe, are and were employed by Harland and Wolff Limited through the offices of Shipbuilding Services, SA; and at what cost to the yard;
(3) apart from the matter at present in dispute following his dismissal of Mr. Hoppe as managing director of Harland and Wolff Limited, if he will state in the Official Report the amount paid to Shipbuilding Services, SA, and the amount still owing to Shipbuilding Services, SA., (a) for the services of men under contract to Shipbuilding Services and (b) for other services carried out by Shipbuilding Services for Harland and Wolff Limited, indicating which services in each case:
(4) whether he will publish in the Official Report the estate agents, particulars of the house, and adjoining 42-acre farm, built by Harland and Wolff at Annaclay, County Down, for Mr. Hoppe as managing director of Harland and Wolff; what was the original cost of this tied cottage in current values; and what were the costs of any improvements made to the property whilst Mr. Hoppe was in residence.
§ Mr. OrmeThe matters to which these Questions relate are within the responsibility of Harland and Wolff Limited. which is a joint stock limited liability company in which the Northern Ireland Department of Commerce holds 47 per cent. of the ordinary stock and 36 per cent. of the total stock.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there 393W were any Government-appointed directors on the board of Harland and Wolff at the time of the appointment of Mr. Hoppe as managing director of the yard; and if his appointment was approved by Her Majesty's Government or the terms of his employment sanctioned by the Shipbuilding Industries Board.
§ Mr. OrmeThere was one nominee of the Government of Northern Ireland394W on the board at the time of the appointment of Mr. Iver Hoppe in July 1971. The Northern Ireland Government concurred in the appointment. Neither the Shipbuilding Industry Board nor the Northern Ireland Government was required to give formal approval to the terms and conditions of the appointment. although both were aware of the basis on which the company proposed to make the appointment.