HC Deb 06 February 1975 vol 885 cc628-9W
Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the financial, social and technical objectives set by Her Majesty's Government for Short Bros. and Harland Ltd.

Mr. Meacher

Short Brothers and Harland Ltd. functions as a commercial organisation with normal commercial objectives. Its Government-appointed directors must have regard to general Government policy. The company trades in both civil and military aerospace products, and is judged by the same criteria as other suppliers when undertaking Government contracts.

Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will arrange for the House of Commons to have available to it the information required to monitor the progress of Short Bros. and Harland towards the financial, technical and social objectives which the company has been set by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Meacher

The Government are the major shareholder in Short Brothers and Harland and have made loans to the company in the past. I therefore regularly receive data on its general financial position and progress reports on Government-supported projects. This information is commercially confidential and cannot be published.

Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many man-hours are required by the staff of his Department to monitor the progress of Short Bros. and Harland Limited towards the objectives set by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Meacher

The information is not available in the form requested. Within the Department of Industry there are seven officials who over a period spend some of their time on matters relating to Short Brothers and Harland Ltd., as part of their responsibilities for the aircraft industry as a whole. This is equivalent to about one person full-time. In addition, professional advice on specialised questions is provided from within the Department and by MOD, PE.