§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the changes in labour productivity, as measured by turnover, numbers employed and consequent sales value per employee and added value per employee, at (a) ROF Birtley, (b) ROF Bishopton, (c) ROF Blackburn, (d) ROF Bridgwater, (e) ROF Chorley, (f) RSAF Enfield, (g) ROF Glascoed, (h) ROF Leeds, (i) ROF Nottingham and (j) ROF Patricroft, respectively, in the last two years.
§ Mr. Pattie[pursuant to his answer, 9 February 1984, c. 699–7001]: During the last two years, operations with the royal ordnance factories have reflected major investments 246W in new plant and a continuation of the drive to improve methods and reduce costs. Because of these influences, there is no single measurement of labour productivity. In order to highlight the changes that have occurred during the last two years and, at the same time, provide information that is meaningful, it has been considered appropriate to present the absolute values of each of the statistics required rather than the change in each from one year to the next.
Appendix A shows the sales value in each of the last three years. The totals include sales to other factories.
Appendix B shows the numbers employed in each of the last three years and includes both industrial and non-industrial staff. The basis of the calculation is a 53 point average of the weekly strength total in each factory.
Appendix C shows the sales value per employee in each of the last three years. The sales values used in the calculation include sales to other factores.
Appendix D shows the added value per employee in each of the last three years. The increase in the period under review is due to higher profit and a reduction in the number of employees.
APPENDIX A Turnover (including sales to other factories) 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 £ million £ million £ million Birtley 38.8 40.8 44.7 Bishopton 24.4 37.2 43.5 Blackburn 29.0 27.2 30.3 Bridgwater 16.5 17.9 19.4 Chorley 72.6 77.9 92.3 Enfield 31.6 35.4 32.9 Glascoed 66.1 85.3 99.9 Leeds 30.8 61.8 112.6 Nottingham 32.7 21.5 23.7 Patricroft 21.3 24.9 27.8
APPENDIX B Number of Employees 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 Birtley 2,128 1,773 1,625 Bishopton 2,526 2,491 2,290 Blackburn 2,710 2,353 2,174 Bridgwater 1,068 992 924 Chorley 2,848 2,723 2,549 Enfield 1,287 1,318 1,243 Glascoed 2,041 2,013 1,902 Leeds 1,697 1,695 1,603 Nottingham 1,541 1,459 1,306 Patricroft 1,502 1,452 1,384
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APPENDIX C Sales value per employee 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 £ £ £ Birtley 18,477 23,036 27,520 Bishopton 9,658 14,925 18,985 Blackburn 10,852 11,568 13,951 Bridgwater 15,686 18,001 20,963 Chorley 25,589 28,612 36,224 Enfield 24,979 26,866 26,456 Glascoed 31,930 42,372 52,516 Leeds 17,920 36,487 70,237 Nottingham 21,709 14,715 18,181 Patricroft 14,228 17,156 20,051
APPENDIX D Added value per employee 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 £ £ £ Birtley 11,887 9,475 12,226 Bishopton 8,316 8,975 12,806 Blackburn 8,288 7,166 8,747 Bridgwater 12,113 10,632 13,231 Chorley 11,632 6,939 10,720 Enfield 14,135 11,447 13,075 Glascoed 11,330 10,644 13,003 Leeds 7,736 10,023 17,187 Nottingham 13,551 9,149 12,340 Patricroft 10,399 9,520 11,290
§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the fixed and current assets, respectively, and current liabilities of (a) ROF Birtley, (b) ROF Bishopton, (c) ROF Blackburn, (d) ROF Bridgwater, (e) ROF Chorley, (f) RSAF Enfield, (g) ROF Glascoed, (h) ROF Leeds, (i) ROF Nottingham and (j) ROF Patricroft respectively.
§ Mr. Pattie[pursuant to his answer, 9 February 1984, c. 699]: Appendices A and B show the fixed assets, current assets and current liabilities as recorded in the books of the individual factories at the end of September 1983 and at 31 March 1983. The fixed asset totals are net of cumulative depreciation. Current assets include debtors, stocks and local cash and bank balances but exclude the ROF balance held at the Paymaster General's office which is recorded in the HQ books. At the end of September 1983, this balance amounted to £66.6 million and at 31 March 1983 amounted to £95.5 million. This represents a significant addition to the current asset figures shown in the appendices. Current liabilities include creditors, provisions and accruals.
The royal ordnance factories prepare management accounts and operate as profit centres. A number of operating account and balance sheet transactions are, however, recorded and consolidated by headquarters and are not apportioned to factories. Thus, the factory balance sheet excludes, as already referred to, such items as cash and bank balances where managed centrally. Progress payments which relate to the activity of several factories and stock, debtor and creditors relating to transactions brought to account at headquarters are similarly not included in the factory accounts. The profit and loss
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Year Species Number used Number exposed to CS Died during experiment Killed at conclusion 1974 Rats 100 100 61 39 1975 Rabbits 10 10 0 10 1976 Mice 300 *225 31 0 Rats 200 *150 8 0 Guinea Pigs 200 *150 39 0 1977 Mice — — 11 †258 Rats — — 9 †183 Guinea Pigs — — 16 †145 * Animals not exposed to CS were required as controls. † 1977 figures refer to the continuing work initiated in 1976; no further animals were used. accounts and balance sheets' figures recorded in the accounts of royal ordnance factories do not, therefore, represent a stand-alone position as separate accounts for each factory are not published.
APPENDIX A Fixed assets, current assets and current liabilities as at 30 September 1983 Fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities Capital employed £ million £ million £ million £ million Birtley 6.0 12.2 (3.4) 14.8 Bishopton 10.5 21.3 (2.5) 29.3 Blackburn 8.2 13.7 (4.8) 17.1 Bridgwater 10.2 6.6 (1.6) 15.2 Chorley 17.3 32.1 (4.3) 45.1 Enfield 12.6 13.1 (2.8) 22.9 Glascoed 8.9 46.2 (2.6) 52.5 Leeds 7.2 55.9 (28.7) 34.4 Nottingham 7.9 11.4 (1.2) 18.1 Patricroft 10.6 8.8 (2.7) 16.7
APPENDIX B Fixed assets, current assets and current liabilities as at 31 March 1983 Fixed assets Current assets Current liabilties Total £ million £ million £ million £ million Birtley 6.1 14.2 (3.7) 16.6 Bishopton 7.8 20.3 (3.8) 24.3 Blackburn 8.1 11.2 (4.6) 14.7 Bridgwater 9.6 5.7 (1.8) 13.5 Chorley 16.6 27.2 (4.5) 39.3 Enfield 12.2 11.6 (3.0) 20.8 Glascoed 7.0 43.3 (7.4) 42.9 Leeds 7.1 85.7 (32.7) 60.1 Nottingham 8.3 12.7 (2.1) 18.9 Patricroft 9.3 9.1 (2.9) 15.5