HC Deb 20 February 1978 vol 944 cc471-3W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what is the number of employees in Silley Cox & Company Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(2) what is the number of employees in Newark Ferguson Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(3) what is the number of employees in Menzies and Company Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(4) what is the number of employees in I. Kirkcaldy and Son Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(5) what is the number of employees in R. and H. Green and Silley Weir Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(6) what is the number of employees in R. Harris and Son (Plant Hire) Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(7) what is the number of employees in R. Harris and Son (Brunton Builders) Limited; and whethey they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(8)what is the number of employees in R. Harris and Son (Concrete) Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(9) what is the number of employees in R. Harris and Son (Builders) Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(10) what is the number of employees in Seemark Switches Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(11) what is the number of employees in Bluescroll Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(12) what is the number of employees in Moonchase Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(13) what is the number of employees in Oakspine Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(14) what is the number of employees in Hawthorn Leslie (Engineers) Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;

(15) what is the number of employees in Henry Edie and Company Limited; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill.

Mr. Les Huckfield

I understand from British Shipbuilders that Silley Cox & Co. Ltd. employs 1,245 people, Hawthorn Leslie (Engineers) Ltd. employs 650, R. Harris & Son (Builders) Ltd, employs 182, J. Kirkaldy & Son Ltd. employs 41, and that the companies referred to in the other Questions have no employees. All are within the definition of "relevant company" in the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill. The eligibility of their employees to benefit under the terms of the Bill will depend on the terms of the order.

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what formula is being used to calculate the proposed redundancy payments to workers in Swan Hunter.

Mr. Les Huckfield

Any employee dismissed on redundancy would be eligible under the Redundancy Payments Act 1965 in the normal way. So far as the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill is concerned, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my hon. Friend's answer, on 7th February 1978, to my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop).—[Vol. 943, c. 475–8.]