HC Deb 23 March 1970 vol 798 cc946-8
2. Sir B. Rhys Williams

asked the Minister of Technology if he will now announce the result of the investigation conducted by his department into the proposals by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited with regard to the textile industry.

29. Mr. Barnett

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on his policy regarding Imperial Chemical Industries' bid for Viyella.

38. Mr. Kenneth Baker

asked the Minister of Technology whether he has yet completed his study into the British textile industry; and whether he will make a statement.

The Paymaster-General (Mr. Harold Lever)

I expect to make a statement on this matter soon.

Sir B. Rhys Williams

It is extremely disappointing, when the House has been led to expect a statement today, that the Minister is still vacillating. When will he make a statement on this important subject?

Mr. Lever

If the hon. Gentleman allows his expectations to be aroused by the newspapers instead of the sober and reliable comments of Ministers, he will get into this difficulty. The only statement that I have made is that I hope to be able to make a statement before the end of this month.

Mr. Barnett

I am equally sorry that my right hon. Friend is not yet ready to make a statement. Will he tell us under what legislation he expects to be able to enforce anything that he proposes to issue in his statement? How does he expect I.C.I. to be able to get below the 50 per cent. holding which some newspapers report him as wanting to see done? Is it open to foreign textile companies to bid for second-force textile companies?

Mr. Lever

I appreciate that my hon. Friend's supplementary question was prepared in the expectation that some newspaper comment might prove more reliable than it is. Nevertheless, I must tell him that I cannot reflect in public on the powers that I will have to enforce such proposals as I offer until those proposals are offered.

Mr. Baker

This is an anticlimax. We will have to overhaul the system of leaks. May I press the right hon. Gentleman to ensure that, if he is to make a statement before the end of the month, it is done while Parliament is sitting, because most of the days before 31st March are holidays?

Secondly, I hope that the Government's mind is still fairly open and that the leaks last week may be just myths.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Long questions mean fewer questions.

Mr. Lever

I hope that nothing I do will ever bring the system of leaks into disrepute.

Sir K. Joseph

As the Minister has presumably got into trouble in getting his recommendations accepted by his Cabinet colleagues, may I ask whether he will confirm that he will be making a statement in this House while Parliament is sitting?

Mr. Lever

I can add nothing to what I have already said—namely, that I hope to make a statement as soon as possible and, if at all possible, before the House rises. That is a matter on which I will do my utmost for the convenience of the House.

Sir K. Joseph rose

——

Mr. Lever

Before the right hon. Gentleman excites himself, he must not infer that I have had any difficulties on this or any other subject with my Cabinet colleagues.

Sir K. Joseph

On a point of order. The right hon. Gentleman in his answers to supplementary questions contradicted himself. He spoke, first, of making a statement "before the end of this month" and later "as soon as possible". In view of the importance of the statement being made to the House of Commons, surely it is right that the Minister should be asked to explain which he means.

Mr. Speaker

That is a point of argument rather than of order.

Mr. Lever

I was referring to a previous statement that I had made in answer to a Question in the House when I promised a statement before the end of the month. In today's statement I said that I expected to make a statement on this matter soon. That is all that I can say.