§ 34. Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons are currently employed in royal ordnance factories; and what is his estimate of the likely number so employed in three years time.
§ Mr. PattieI take the hon. Member's question to refer to the royal ordnance factories currently operating under a trading fund within the Ministry of Defence. This therefore excludes the ordnance factories at Burghfield and Cardiff.
At 1 July 1984, 19,060 permanent civil servants were employed by the ROF organisation. As the hon. Member is aware, subject to the necessary legislation, it is the Government's intention to incorporate the organisation in the autumn and subsequently to introduce private capital by some means. Notwithstanding this, levels of employment are and will continue to be dependent upon the level of the order book.