§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has assessed the effect on the unemployment situation in Liverpool of the decision of Plessey's to shed 825 jobs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe Manpower Services Commission will do all it can to help those workers made redundant find new jobs, and all its advisory, placement and re-training services will be at their disposal.
95WI understand that these job losses are the result of Plessey concentrating the manufacture of newer technological products, such as system X, on Merseyside. The less labour-intensive new technologies may result initially in job losses, but as adoption of the new digital equipment becomes more widespread we expect there will be sufficient growth in sales and exports to increase employment. Failure to adapt to new technology would prove far more damaging to long term employment prospects in the telecomunications industry.