§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total amount of money which has been paid in grants to the Strathearn Audio Company from Government funds.
§ Mr. ConcannonI refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Carson) on 28th November 1977.—[Vol. 940, c.95.]
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of employees employed at one particular time by the Strathearn Audio Company.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe maximum employment provided by Strathearn Audio Ltd. was 327 in the spring of 1977.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of the directors of the Strathearn Audio Company, their salaries and expense allowances.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe directors of Strathearn Audio Ltd. are Messrs. R. G. Smyth, Chairman, G. Edge, C. C. Fox, J. M. Gordon and L. B. Shaw. With the exception of Mr. Shaw they are all non-executive and receive directors' fees of £1,500 per annum. No expense allowances are paid but they are reimbursed in respect of expenses properly incurred in connection with the business of the company.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will name the chairmen of the Strathearn Audio Company since its founding and their individual salaries and expense allowances.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe chairmen of Strathearn Audio Ltd. since it was first incorporated have been Dr. J. Watt and Messrs. B. G. Harkin, G. R. Bish and R. G. Smyth. With the exception of Mr. Bish, whose position was executive and salaried, all were entitled to fees. Dr. Watt did not draw a fee, Mr. Harkin received £3,500 per annum, and Mr. Smyth is currently in receipt of a director's832W fee of £1,500 per annum. Mr. Bish's salary was on the basis of £17,000 per annum. No expense allowances have been paid but expenses properly incurred in connection with the business of the company are reimbursed.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Strathearn Audio Company signed the Declaration of Fair Employment; and how many Protestants and Roman Catholics it presently employs.
§ Mr. ConcannonI understand from the Fair Employment Agency that Strathearn Audio Ltd. has subscribed to the Declaration of Principle and Intent under the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976. The Agency has not undertaken any overall investigation into the employees of the company, and the information sought in the second part of the Question is not, therefore, available.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals received special payment on termination of their employment at Strathearn Audio Company; and what was the total amount of that payment.
§ Mr. ConcannonI understand that 131 employees left the employment of Strathearn Audio Ltd. on 6th January 1978 under the terms of a voluntary redundancy scheme negotiated between the company and representatives of the employees and their unions. Having regard to all the circumstances, including the potential liability under Part IV of the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, special payments totalling £104,800 were made by the company.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what conditions the further £1 million grant is being made to the Strathearn Audio Company.
§ Mr. ConcannonFinancial assistance is being made available to Strathearn Audio Ltd. to enable the company to maintain productive capacity and develop the production and sales of a limited range of products. The total amount of the additional assistance which will be required is being kept under review; the availability of this assistance was conditional upon the implementation of severe 833W cut-backs both in the range of products and the size of the labour force. The company's performance in terms of its new objectives will be very closely monitored by my officials.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inquiries he has made about the making of IRA detonators from materials stolen from the Strathearn Audio Company factory.
§ Mr. DunnThe police have no evidence to link detonators used by the Provisional IRA with materials obtained from the Strathearn Audio factory. If834W the hon. Gentleman has any evidence to suggest otherwise I would be grateful if he will make it available to the police.