HC Deb 15 November 1971 vol 826 cc12-3
12. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects his Department's inquiry into Rolls-Royce Limited to be completed: and whether he proposes to publish it.

Mr. John Davies

I do not expect to receive the report for some months. I shall then be in a position to consider whether or not to publish it.

Mr. Rost

In view of the sudden financial collapse of Rolls-Royce only some months after the optimistic report from the directors, does my right hon. Friend not agree that there is considerable, widespread public anxiety about as well as interest in having an essentially full report published about the whole story?

Mr. Davies

Yes, I do indeed realise that there is such public interest, but my hon. Friend will realise, too, that with investigations of this kind I first need to see the report and to see what it contains.

Mr. Bishop

Is the Secretary of State aware that his reply to his hon. Friend indicates a lamentable lack of urgency in this matter, and will he not only look at the past and the present but also at the future of Rolls-Royce (1971), particularly of the RB 211 project, which is, of course, very important in its relationship to the future of other policies in the aerospace industry? Have the Government done any thinking on this subject?

Mr. Davies

I cannot join the hon. Gentleman in saying that the inspectors in any way delayed the carrying out of their work, which they prosecuted with due urgency, realising very much the public interest there is in this matter. Equally regarding the future of Rolls-Royce (1971), the hon. Member can rest assured that that matter is seldom out of our minds.