HC Deb 15 November 1982 vol 32 c57W
Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed at Harland and Wolff's shipyard; how that number has fallen over the last 10 years; how much Government finance has been provided to the firm in each of the last 10 years, and how much in total since May 1979, expressing the figures in historic and current terms.

Mr. Adam Butler

At 31 October 1982 Harland and Wolff Limited employed 6,220 compared with 9,438 at 31 October 1972.

The following table gives details of financial assistance from all Government sources provided to the company in each of the last ten years, expressed in both historic and 1981–82 values, and inclusive of payments made under the shipbuilding redundancy payments scheme:

Year to 31 March Historic Cost 1981–82 Cost
£ million £ million
1973 4.3 15.1
1974 11.2 36.7
1975 8.2 22.4
1976 35.4 77.2
1977 21.9 42.2
1978 3.3 5.6
1979 16.0 24.5
1980 27.3 35.7
1981 48.9 54.2
1982 52.7 52.7
1 April-12 November 1982 40.1 37.3

Since May 1979 a total of £164.2 million at historic values (£173.6 million at 1981–82 values) has been provided to the company.