§ 26. Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement concerning future employment prospects in the aerospace and allied industries.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOrders for both civil and military aircraft are increasing and there is long-term potential worldwide for expansion. Employment prospects in the aerospace industry in this country will depend on the ability of our companies to compete in national and international markets, and on further collaboration with companies in other countries such as that between Short Brothers of Belfast and Embraer of Brazil. This partnership has just been awarded the contract for the RAF trainer aircraft—a project which could result in over 1,100 jobs, more than half of them in Northern Ireland.
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TABLE 1 Number of 16 to 18-year-olds on youth opportunities programme-youth training scheme 1980 to January 1984 16-year-olds 17 to 18-year-olds Numbers 000s Numbers as percentage of all 16-year-olds Numbers 000s Numbers as percentage of all 17 to 18-year-olds 1980 52 6 28 2 1981 96 10 52 3 1982 129 14 69 4 1983 170 19 91 5 1984 227 25 30 2 Age as at 31 August in preceding year.