§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether Spillers-French has issued redundancy notices to employees; and what discussions or action is being initiated by his Department to avert redundancies.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to preserve the jobs of those workers threatened with redundancy by the proposed closure of Spillers Bakeries; and what alternative measures he proposes to take in the event of such measures being necessary.
§ Mr. GoldingI understand that redundancy notices were issued by Spillers-French on 7th April to the employees concerned. The only form of assistance which my Department can offer to avert redundancies is the temporary employment subsidy, which is intended to help firms overcome short-term difficulties and was not therefore appropriate in this case. The Manpower Services Commission is, however, doing all it can to help 489W the redundant workers find new jobs or train in new skills. Furthermore, the Government have received informal assurances from Rank Hovis McDougall and Associated British Foods that they expect to take on over 2,000 additional workers—over and above those working in the 13 plants they are buying from Spillers-French—to meet the increased production they will need as a result of the closure of the 23 Spillers' bakeries.