§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of companies which now hold contracts for engineering, mechanical and communications work in the Royal Air Force and of those the number which have made significant training provision to ensure that adequate levels of skill will continue to be available.
§ Mr. AitkenThere are currently in excess of 3,000 companies holding contracts for work in aid of the Royal Air Force, a high proportion of which companies are likely to be involved in engineering, mechanical and communications work. To isolate these would not be possible without disproportionate cost and effort. All companies are required to possess and to have demonstrated adequate levels of skills for the work in question before my Department is prepared to place contracts with them. The training provisions necessary are a matter for the companies concerned.