§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of Aviation what was the value of contracts, including sub-contracts, placed with Short Brothers and Harland by Her Majesty's Government since 16th October 1964 and cancelled during the same period; and if he will give the figures for the period from October 1951 to 15th October 1964.
§ Mr. MulleySince 16th October 1964 my Department has placed direct contracts with Short Brothers and Harland to the value of £8.6 million. Cancellations have amounted to £44,000. Precise information about sub-contract orders is not available as these are the responsibility of the main contractor, but the value of these orders placed since 16th October 1964 is understood to be about £12.5 million.
Orders placed in Northern Ireland as a whole between 1st April 1953 and 30th September 1963 were valued at £85.6 million and cancellations at £1.4 million. The majority of these orders were placed with Short Brothers and Harland. Information is not readily available for orders placed with Short Brothers and Harland for the precise period October 1951 to 15th October 1964.
§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of Aviation if he will now make a statement about the future of Short Brothers and Harland in the light of the Plowden Report.
§ Mr. MulleyI have nothing to add at present to the statement which I made in the course of the debate on the Plowden Report on 1st February.