§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the discussions his Department has had with representatives of the workers from the Lyons Maid factory in Liverpool.
§ Mr. Waddington:I met a deputation from the Lyons Maid Liverpool action committee on 14 October.
The deputation outlined the current situation at the factory, and summarised the various methods it had been exploring with Lyons Maid management and local interests to try to keep the factory open. I pointed out that it is Government policy not to interfere in the commercial judgment of firms. However, I have since written to Lyons Maid informing it of the meeting.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on employment consequences of the proposed closure of the Lyons Maid factory, Liverpool.
§ Mr. Waddington:I understand the Lyons Maid factory in Liverpool, which is due to close on 3 December 1982, employs 357 workers at present. It is not possible to give any realistic estimate of the number of workers currently employed there who, in the event of closure, would subsequently register as unemployed.
100WAll the facilities of the Manpower Services Commission will, of course, be made available to the workers affected to help them find new jobs or to train for fresh employment if the closure goes ahead.