HC Deb 23 January 1970 vol 794 cc197-8W
Mrs. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of jobs likely to be lost in connection with the proposed closure of the Royal Navy Torpedo Factory at Alexandria.

Mr. John Morris

A total of some 1,300 are currently employed at the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory, Alexandria. 400 are non-industrials of whom 260 are established, and 900 are industrials of whom 200 are established.

Alternative employment will be offered to all established employees in accordance with the normal rules. Alternative employment in other defence establishments will also be offered to most of the unestablished craftsmen and to many of the unestablished non-craft workers who are willing to move to another area.

Additionally, strenuous efforts are being made to secure another occupier for the factory or to provide alternative employment in the area.

Mrs. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the proposal to close the Royal Navy Torpedo Factory at Alexandria was first discussed by his department.

Mr. John Morris

It became apparent during the summer of 1969 that due to the delay in the development of the Mark 24 Torpedo it might be necessary to close the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory at Alexandria. Since then, as I explained in an answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele) on 17th December, 1969, strenuous efforts have been made to divert suitable work from other parts of the public sector, which have made it possible to keep the factory open until the end of this year.—[Vol. 793, c.340–1.]