HC Deb 02 February 1953 vol 510 cc1449-50
6. Mr. Edelman

asked the Minister of Supply if he will introduce legislation to enable him to exercise supervision over amalgamations of firms in the motor industry, so as to ensure that these do not take place in a sense contrary to the public interest.

Mr. Sandys

No, Sir.

Mr. Edelman

Will the right hon Gentleman bear in mind that, following the Austin-Morris merger, 1,000 men were listed as redundant almost overnight? Would he not take steps to intervene to prevent this arbitrary and unfeeling rationalisation, which not only causes hardship to the men concerned but is also wasteful of national resources?

Mr. Sandys

In these times of growing foreign competition it would be very dangerous to discourage reorganisations which are designed to increase efficiency. That would be one of the surest ways of losing our overseas markets and creating large-scale unemployment.

Mr. Edelman

While not seeking to discourage efficiency, may I ask whether it is not the height of idiocy to produce a situation by which 1,000 men are made unemployed without providing alternative employment for them? For that reason is it not desirable to have Governmental supervision of these mergers?

Air Commodore Harvey

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that if nationalisation took place in the motor car industry it would be 20 times worse?

Mr. Woodburn

Does the Minister not agree that there could be some anticipation of these changes, and that it is possible to taper them gradually instead of introducing them suddenly, without any prior announcement at all? Could the Minister of Labour be consulted about the placing of men and the appropriate time for making such a change?

Mr. Sandys

I think the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) has a Question down to the Minister of Labour on this subject for answer tomorrow.