19. Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the prospects for the aerospace industry in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [15039]
§ Mr. AncramThe aerospace industry in Northern Ireland is dominated by Short Brothers, owned by Bombardier, the Canadian company. Should the current crisis at Fokker not be resolved, jobs would be lost at Shorts but the company would not be at risk. It is a highly regarded cost competitive partner in many global ventures. Should Fokker continue in production, Shorts would be a serious contender for more contracts.