Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions officials of his Department have had with BAE Systems on that company's ongoing redundancy programme.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
BEIS officials are in regular contact with BAE Systems who are keeping us informed of developments and progress with their redundancy programme. This recent redundancy announcement is a commercial decision by the company. I appreciate that this is a worrying time for BAE Systems’ employees and their families and the Department is working with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Work and Pensions in discussing potential options to support those affected workers. BAE Systems are also working with Government via the Defence Growth Partnership to consider plans for future growth opportunities across the sector.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of BAE Systems job losses, announced in October 2017, on the UK's capacity to produce aircraft and aviation systems.
Answered by Claire Perry
Final decisions have not yet been taken on BAE Systems’ consultation on transforming its business. However the Government remains engaged with BAE Systems to understand the impact of the potential job reductions, and to ensure that vital skills are maintained.
This Government recognises the strength and capability of the UK's aerospace sector. We have a substantial programme of work underway through the Defence Growth Partnership, which is identifying opportunities to encourage growth and competitiveness of the UK defence sector. Taken alongside the Future Combat Air Systems Technology Initiative, this will maintain and enhance the UK's position as a global leader in combat air technologies.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that skills in the defence manufacturing industry are retained across the Solent area following the announcement of proposed job losses at BAE Systems.
Answered by Claire Perry
BAE Systems remains a crucial industrial partner in supporting the Royal Navy in the Solent area. The Government is working with BAE Systems, Local Authorities, the Local Enterprise Partnership, and Talent Retention Solutions (TRS) to ensure that we retain vital engineering and manufacturing skills in the UK.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on what date the Government was first made aware of plans of the latest round of job losses at BAE Systems.
Answered by Claire Perry
BAE Systems officially confirmed their plans for company restructuring and potential job reductions on 6 October 2017. The proposals remain subject to Trades Union consultation and no final decisions have yet been taken. The Government will continue to work closely with the company to understand the impact of these potential reductions, to provide support to those who might be affected, and to maximise export opportunities for the Typhoon and Hawk training aircraft.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff are employed in his Department's Rapid Response Team set up to assist BAE Systems employees affected by recent job losses; in which regions those staff are based; and how many BAE Systems staff potentially affected by job losses have been contacted by a member of that Rapid Response team.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Jobcentre staff are in contact with BAE Systems and stand ready to offer support once the consultation period ends and a decision on redundancies has been made.
Each of our Jobcentre Districts deploy resources to assist with Redundancy Support which varies according to the situation and the requirements of the workforce.
The Rapid Response Service is delivered in partnership with a range of national and local partners, including National Careers Service and local service providers. Working closely with BAE Systems we will agree and provide a tailored package which could include: