HC Deb 15 February 1965 vol 706 cc169-70W
83. Mr. Hale

asked the Minister of Aviation what were the numbers of persons now engaged in full time employment in the United Kingdom and in the Hawker Siddeley Aviation Limited Works at Chadderton Lane at the most recent convenient date; and what estimates he has prepared of future prospects in 12 months and two years' time.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

About 265,000 people are currently employed in the aircraft industry throughout Great Britain. With an additional 7,500 in Northern Ireland this makes a total of about 272,500 for the United Kingdom. The Hawker Siddeley factory at Chadderton employs about 6,500.

I do not think it would be right for me to publish forecasts of future employment prospects, either generally or in relation to this particular factory while we are still discussing with the companies concerned the situation in the light of recent changes, and they have yet to announce the results of their assessments to their workpeople.