HC Deb 31 October 1973 vol 863 cc175-8
Mr. Leslie Huckfield

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the threatened closure of the Triumph motor cycle works at Meriden next week. I sincerely apologise for the very short notice that I was able to give you of this matter, Mr. Speaker. I was told in writing only 20 minutes ago.

For the past month I have been engaged in negotiations with Mr. Dennis Poore, the Chairman of the Norton Villiers Triumph company, in an endeavour to form a workers' cooperative to run the plant at Meriden. On two separate occasions I have negotiated agreements with Mr. Poore to assume the normal working proposals at the factory. On two occasions local management has failed to implement those agreements, in the latest instance in flagrant breach of the understanding which I achieved with Mr. Poore in the House last Thursday.

It is a company which is now involved with some £5 million of Government money. It is a company to which Mr. Poore has given serious undertakings about the future of the industry to the Minister for Industry. It is a company in which some 750 jobs are involved. It is a company in which the whole of the future of the British motor cycle industry is involved.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Leslie Huckfield) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter, which he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely,

the threatened closure of the Triumph motor cycle works at Meriden next week". Although the hon. Member was unable to give me notice of this by 12 o'clock, in all the circumstances I felt it right to allow him to make this application. However, I have to consider the other opportunities for raising matters of this sort, and I regret that I cannot grant his application this afternoon.

  1. BILLS PRESENTED
      2. c176
    1. LOCAL GOVERNMENT 164 words
      2. cc176-7
    2. HORTICULTURE (SPECIAL PAYMENTS) 112 words
      3. c177
    3. CHANNEL TUNNEL (INITIAL FINANCE) 96 words
      4. c177
    4. CHARLWOOD AND HORLEY 67 words
      5. c177
    5. BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS 62 words
      6. cc177-8
    6. CINEMATOGRAPH AND INDECENT DISPLAYS 117 words
    c178
  2. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 222 words