§ Mr. Homewoodasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many redundancies have occurred in the boot and shoe industry in Northamptonshire since 1 January; and what is his estimate of the number of retirements which have taken place after which workers have not been replaced.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI have been asked to reply.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of workers involved in redundancies of 10 or more so far confirmed to them as due to occur in the footwear industry in Northamptonshire between January and October 1980 is 1,376. I have no information on which to base an estimate of any job loss that may have arisen through retirement.