§ Mr. Palmerasked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on the estimated long-term and short-term employment situation in the aircraft industry at Bristol, taking into account the cancellation of the TSR2 project, the Anglo-French memorandum of understanding for the joint development of new military aircraft, and other future projects.
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§ Mr. Roy JenkinsReliable estimates of employment in the aircraft industry in Bristol cannot be given until the companies concerned have completed their plans for redeployment in the light of the recent cancellations and the new collaborative projects. Present indications are that in the short-term there may well be a reduction of up to 10 per cent., but the long-term prospects depend not only on the division of work between the factories of the major airframe and aero-engine companies but also on the success that the companies have in gaining orders for their products. As soon as I am able to give more information I will do so.