Mr Alan McKibbin: The right hon. Member for Blyth (Mr. Robens) dealt with the unemployment situation, as did my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, South (Sir D. Campbell) yesterday, and there is nothing very much that I can add to what my hon. Friend said. There is, however, one point on which I should like to support him, and that concerns the safeguarding of the future of Messrs. Short and Harland's, the...
Mr Alan McKibbin: It is only 8 per cent. at the moment.
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration he has given to authorising the proposal for constructing, for the convenience of air travellers, a London underground station at the West London air terminal, through which three lines run, namely, the Piccadilly, Circle and District lines.
Mr Alan McKibbin: I have no knowledge of what that reply was, but, in case it was that the terminal might not be permanent, does not my hon. Friend consider that a covered travelator on which passengers could stand with their luggage, running from the boundary of the air terminal to the western end of Gloucester Road Station—which would be a much shorter route than going round by road—would serve the...
Mr Alan McKibbin: I trust that hon. Members will forgive me if I do not attempt to deal with the aircraft industry as a whole, but confine my remarks to the future of Short Brothers and Harland, which is of paramount importance to us in Northern Ireland because of the unemployment situation there, and to me, in particular, because the firm's principal works at Queen's Island, Belfast, happen to be in my...
Mr Alan McKibbin: I am grateful for being called to speak after the right hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall), because he put the case for a reduction in tax very much better than I can. I am also particularly glad because it is well known that he is a good friend of Northern Ireland. On behalf of the Northern Ireland Bands Association, I thank my right hon Friend for reducing the tax to 30 per...
Mr Alan McKibbin: In any arrangements being made will my right hon. Friend see that Messrs. Short and Harlands is retained as an effective unit of the British aircraft industry, and allowed to make its own design and to carry out its own manufacture? Is he aware that yesterday 1,100 men were given notice that they would be paid off before the end of the year, owing to the cessation of the Canberra contract?
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Secretary of State for Air if, when a requirement for a long-range freighter is defined for Transport Command, he will ensure that it has a civil as well as a military use; and if he will, in this connection, bear in mind Short and Harland's design which serves both purposes.
Mr Alan McKibbin: I would like to thank my hon. Friend for his reply, which I am sure will give satisfaction in Northern Ireland. In view of the location and facilities of Short and Harlands, second to none in the country, does my hon. Friend not consider that it would be a tragedy if the firm went out of production, especially as this is one of the few industries in Northern Ireland which are not dependent on...
Mr Alan McKibbin: I and my Ulster colleagues would very much welcome any project which would relieve the immediate problem of redundancy in Short and Harlands, and we should be very glad to get further orders for Canberras. But I feel that it is more important to ensure a lasting and progressive industry. If an early decision could be taken about Service requirements for freighter aeroplanes it would help, as...
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when reviewing the incidence of Purchase Tax, he will take into consideration the anomaly that oil-burning heaters are exempted whereas electric domestic heaters are subject to Purchase Tax at 60 per cent. of the wholesale price; and if he will bear in mind that oil requires to be imported while the basic materials for the production of...
Mr Alan McKibbin: Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that the Purchase Tax on all electrical heaters is impeding rural electrification throughout the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland, where there have never been any power cuts owing to the foresight of the Northern Ireland Government in providing adequate generating capacity? Will he ask his right hon. Friend, as an ex-Minister of Agriculture,...
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Minister of Supply, in view of the unemployment situation in Northern Ireland, if he will ensure that the sub-contracting facilities of Messrs. Short Bros. and Harland are made available in the fullest degree for the construction of the new British European Airways Corporation jet airliner.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply and appreciating his difficulties in the matter, may I ask him if he will use his best endeavours to ensure that the experience of Messrs. Short Bros. and Harland in the special fields of experiment is taken fully into account when placing production orders?
Mr Alan McKibbin: In view of the doubts that have been expressed, can my right hon. Friend assure me that Messrs. Short and Harland receive, and will continue to receive, a fair share of Government contracts?
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that a considerable number of workers in the three factories operated by Messrs. Short Brothers and Harland in Northern Ireland have been discharged recently, and that there is the prospect of a further considerable cut in the near future owing to restrictions on spending as a result of the White Paper on Defence; and, in view of the present...
Mr Alan McKibbin: In thanking my right hon. Friend for agreeing to receive the deputation, may I ask him to bear in mind that time is the essence of the contract if the services of these skilled technicians and draughtsmen, many of whom possess degrees, are not to be lost to this country? Is he aware that 168 who have already been paid off and others who may be paid off in the near future have already made...
Mr Alan McKibbin: The references in the Gracious Speech to increased benefits for war pensioners and others will be warmly welcomed by all sections of the community. By their actions since taking office, the Government have clearly shown that they have the welfare of old folk and the war pensioners at heart. I have no doubt that, when we hear the details, we shall find that the proposals will be fair to the...
Mr Alan McKibbin: Has the right hon. Member figures for the flute, which is such an important instrument in Northern Ireland?
Mr Alan McKibbin: have listened with great interest to what the right hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall) has said about musical instruments. I shall not take as long as he has done to say what I wish to say, because I said almost everything that I can say in the Second Reading debate in an attempt to get Purchase Tax removed from musical instruments for amateur bands in Northern Ireland. Since...
