§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is now the aggregate cost to public funds of all sums given, loaned, committed, promised or at risk to Messrs. Harland and Wolff to date; what is the number of persons currently employed in the shipyard; and 477W what is his latest estimate of the aggregate cost to public funds of moneys committed to this shipyard in the last 12 months per employee on its books.
§ Mr. Adam Butler[pursuant to his reply, 26 June 1981, c. 236]: Since it was announced on 26 March 1975 that the company was to be taken into public ownership payments made and commitments, excluding guarantees, given to Harland and Wolff Ltd. amount in total to £206 million.
The number of persons currently employed is 7,120. The cost per employee of assistance provided in the 12-month period ended 31 May 1981 was £7,587 based on the average numbers employed during the period.