§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the employment prospects for those people who are currently employed at SRDE Highcliffe.
§ Mr. William RodgersAs announced in the 1973 Statement on the Defence Estimates (Cmnd. 5231) the work of the Signals Research and Development Establishment is to be transferred to the Royal Radar Establishment, Malvern. The move is planned to start in mid-1977 and to be substantially completed within three years.
It is expected that a large proportion of the staff employed by SRDE at the time will transfer to Malvern with their work. In accordance with an agreement made with the staff representatives, official letters were sent last month to all employees at the establishment to indicate how the move was likely to affect them personally. Every effort will be made to meet individual preferences and to minimise unemployment arising as a result of the move of SRDE.