§ 39. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Supply how many men and women are now engaged at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Poole; how many will have to leave each month; how long warning they will get; how many have established status and will be offered alternative Government work; what arrangements, in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour, are now being made for the future employment of the others in anticipation of their dismissal; and what is to happen to the factory.
§ Mr. W. J. TaylorThe numbers are 660 and 110, respectively. Of these, 310 men and 50 women are established. The factory is to be closed in the autumn of this year and the detailed plan for its run-down will be notified to the workpeople's representatives in the near future. The formal period of notice will be two weeks, but the warning period will be much longer. There is already close liaison between the factory management and the local Ministry of Labour officials, who will set up an office in the factory in order that the workpeople affected may be given advice and help about other employment.
A number of commercial firms have expressed an interest in the factory and negotiations for its disposal are proceeding satisfactorily.