§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what information has been given to her concerning the redundancies which 239W are now to be made by the General Electric Company Associated Electrical Industries; how many of these redundancies will occur in the Manchester area; what action she proposes to take to assist those concerned; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. FernyhoughMy Department has been in close touch with the company and has been given detailed information about the recently announced re-organisation in the engineering and light industry divisions. Because of the complexity of the plan it is difficult at this stage to say exactly how many workers will be dismissed. The overall intention is to reduce the labour force by about 2,500 employees during the next 12 months.
The factories principally affected are at Witton (Birmingham), Aldridge (Staffs.), Coventry and Wythenshawe (Manchester). Part of the reduction will be achieved by normal wastage and transfers. I understand that in the Manchester area about 300 workers are expected to become redundant at Wythenshawe over the next six months, and that some technical and commercial staff at the Moseley Road factory and at Trafford Park may lose their jobs unless they are willing to transfer to other areas.
Arrangements will be made for redundant workers to be interviewed and registered by our employment officers well before their employment is due to come to an end. Everything possible will be done to help them to find other jobs