§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Aviation (1) in which areas and at what factories aircraft workers have been given notice of redundancy or are likely to receive such notice; if the firms concerned have consulted the Government before deciding on which areas are to be affected; and what arrangements are being made by Government Departments to ensure suitable alternative employment at the earliest opportunity for those affected;
(2) if he will ensure that redundancy in the aircraft industry takes place mainly in places where alternative work is available or where work can be brought to the areas affected, in order to avoid undue disturbance to workers and their families.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsNotices of redundancy have recently been given at the Hawker Siddeley factories at Brough, Coventry, Hamble and Kingston-upon-Thames. The management consulted my Department before announcing these redundancies and they have undertaken to do so before announcements affecting other areas are made. However, I think it right that the workers affected should receive such news directly from the management concerned through the normal consultative machinery. I therefore think it would be wrong of me to anticipate any announcements the managements may have to make about specific areas or factories.
It is the Government's expectation that in so far as redundancy is unavoidable, as a result of recent decisions, it should occur largely in places where alternative 202W work is available so as to avoid undue disturbance to workers or their families.
As soon as they are informed of any impending redundancies for their areas the staff of the Ministry of Labour's employment exchanges are ready to interview the workers concerned with a view to arranging alternative employment or any necessary training.