asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what estimate he has formed of the effect, over the next 12 months, of the decision not to go ahead with the BAC 311 project, in terms of the total work-force of the airframe and avionics industries, including subcontractors; and in which parts of the United Kingdom he expects the major consequences to be felt.

Work for some 5,000 people would have been provided by the end of 1971 in B.A.C. and its subcontractors—excluding aero-engines—mainly in South East England.This is equivalent to 3 per cent. of current employment in the aerospace industry—excluding engines. It is not possible to estimate reliably how much redundancy will arise from the decision not to go ahead.