§ 56. Mr. Kimballasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is in a position to assess the effect on employment in Gainsborough of the phasing out of Marshall Fowler factory; and if 408W he is satisfied that the Employment Services Agency in the town has all the necessary resources to deal with the situation.
§ Mr. John FraserI understand that the phased closure of the Marshall Fowler factory at Gainsborough may well lead directly to the loss of about 880 jobs. This will obviously have an adverse effect on employment in the area but it is as yet too early to make any precise assessment.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that provisional arrangements have already been made to augment local Employment Service Agency staff to help the workers affected by the proposed closure of the factory and I am assured by the commission that these will be adequate to deal with the situation.