§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the proposed redundancies at the Lucas Aerospace plant, Liverpool, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldI have been asked to reply.
We were naturally very much concerned to hear of the possible redundancies at the Liverpool plant of Lucas Aerospace, which are most unwelcome in an area of such high unemployment. My Department is in close touch with the company, which is at present suffering from the world-wide recession in the civil aircraft market. The company has been examining various remedial strategies in consultation with its employees, and I understand that officials from the Department of Employment have been in touch with the company and have brought the temporary employment subsidy scheme to their attention. I can assure my hon. Friend that if it proves impossible to avoid redundancies the agencies of the Manpower Services Commission will do all they can to help those affected to find new jobs or train for alternative employment.