§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking in view of the redundancies announced at Imperial Chemical Industries Fibres Limited, Pontypool, to assist in providing the men affected with alternative employment and retraining schemes.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithWe are in close contact with the company locally and arrangements have already been made for a job team to go into the works this week to give information and advice about 83W alternative employment and retraining opportunities. As soon as we have details of the skills and experience of the employees becoming redundant, special approaches will be made to other employers for vacancies.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what estimate he has made of the re-employment prospects of the 740 people to be dismissed by Imperial Chemical Industries Fibres (Doncaster) Limited;
(2) if he will make an estimate of the effect on the 5.4 per cent. current unemployment rate in Doncaster of the cut in the work force of Imperial Chemical Industries Fibres (Doncaster) Limited, announced on 22nd July, 1971, of 740.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithUntil more is known about the skills of the employees involved and the timing of dismissals, no meaningful estimate can be made of reemployment prospects or the possible effect on the current unemployment rate. We are in close touch with the company locally and arrangements are being made to give every possible assistance to all concerned.