§ 82. Mr. Currieasked the Minister of Supply to what extent the research department of Short Bros. and Harland Limited at Castlereagh, is now engaged in the development and investigation of aeronautical design and of specialised products of commercial application; and whether he is satisfied that such work is not at present being handicapped through lack of financial support.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesAbout 70 per cent. of the work being done by the research department at Castlereagh is being undertaken on my Department's account and14W the remainder on commercial account. I have no reason to believe that the work of the department has hitherto been handicapped through lack of financial support. Unless the company gets more orders in the future, however, it may not be able to maintain its present labour force. As my hon. Friend knows, I cannot place orders without some form of requirement merely in order to provide employment. As regards the commercial work, this is a matter for the company's commercial judgment.
§ 85. Mr. Currieasked the Minister of Supply the number of persons formerly employed by Short Bros. and Harland Limited at Castlereagh, and at Newtownards, who have been declared to be redundant, and who have been dismissed and/or have resigned, respectively, from their employment with that firm since the month of October, 1957.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesTwenty-two clerical and shop floor workers at Newtownards, some of whom have been given employment at the firm's main factory. At Castlereagh the number employed has risen by three.
§ 86. Mr. Currieasked the Minister of Supply whether Short Bros. and Harland Limited have submitted tenders for the modification of British Overseas Airways Corporation's aircraft engineers' panels, and for the Canberra Drone contract; whether the firm is willing to submit tenders for drawing office sub-contract work; and whether Her Majesty's Government, as majority shareholder, will take steps to increase the prospect of employment for technical and shop-floor workers at Castlereagh and at Newtownards by ensuring that the firm undertakes work of that or a similar nature.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesShort Brothers and Harland Limited did not submit tenders for the modification of the British Overseas Airways Corporation's aircraft engineers' panels because they were not invited to do so. They are at present negotiating a contract with my Department for Canberra Drone aircraft. The Company is willing and anxious to undertake design work on a sub-contract basis for other companies as it has done in the past. The last part of the Question therefore does not arise.
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§ 87. Mr. Knox Cunninghamasked the Minister of Supply whether he will state the number of persons employed by Short Brothers and Harland Limited at their Altona factory in Lisburn and their Bally-dare factory who have been declared to be redundant or have been dismissed or resigned from their employment at these factories since July, 1957.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesShort Brothers and Harland are in process of closing both factories and transferring the work to their main factory at Queens Island. It is expected that about 75 per cent. of those employed at Altona and Ballyclare will be offered work at Queens Island. Between July, 1957, and January 19th, the labour force at Altona fell by 19 and that at Ballyclare by 57.
§ 88. Mrs. McLaughlinasked the Minister of Supply the number of men who have been declared redundant at Messrs. Short Brothers and Harland Limited, since September, 1957; and what are the prospects of these persons being re-employed by Messrs. Short Brothers and Harland in the near future.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesOn 1st January, 1957, the firm employed 8,996 people. By August, 1957, the total had risen to 9,136 and the latest available figure for 19th January, 1958, is 8,640. The prospects of re-engagement are dependent on any additional contracts that the firm may be able to secure.