Norton Triumph Villiers, Meriden (Hansard, 18 March 1974)

§ 20. Mr. Biffen
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what talks are currently being held to help resolve the problems concerning the manufacture of motor cycles and motor cycle components at the Meriden plant of Norton Triumph Villiers; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Secretary of State for Industry and Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (Mr. Anthony Wedgwood Benn)
Last Monday I met Jack Jones, Harry Urwin and Bill Lapworth of the Transport and General Workers Union, together with Denis Johnson of the Meriden co-operative, and offered them assistance in preparing their application for financial aid under the Industry Act. On Thursday, I had a useful talk with Dennis Poore of Norton Triumph Villiers, and I am now convening a joint meeting to discuss the matter further, in the hope that I can help.

§ Mr. Biffen
May I congratulate the Secretary of State on his assumption of office, which I hope will be both beneficial and brief? Will he bear in mind that if a workers' co-operative is to be funded it will be most appropriate for those funds to come from the trade union movement rather than for the taxpayers to be conscripted for a somewhat dubious venture?

§ Mr. Benn
On the first part of the question, the survival of the Government may depend, in part, on the hon. 655 Member's behaviour in the Lobby, about which much has been written—but I shall not comment on that. It was proper for the Government to make hundreds of millions of pounds available to private companies, apparently, but to decline to support a workers' co-operative, were such a thing to be shown to be effective.

§ Mr. Leslie Huckfield
May I, on behalf of the workers at the Triumph plant at Meriden, express our sincere thanks for the attitude shown by my right hon. Friend in the negotiations so far? May I also express, on behalf of the workers in Meriden—many of whom are my constituents—the hope that we shall not only set up a workers' co-operative but shall save the British motor cycle industry?

§ Mr. Benn
I am grateful for that contribution and for the part played by my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Huckfield) in the development of the project. I shall aim to keep him fully informed.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
Will the Secretary of State give an assurance that before coming to a final decision he will seek the advice and views of the Industrial Development Unit and the Industrial Advisory Board?

§ Mr. Benn
Nothing that I have said precludes the normal procedures, though it would not be necessary to come to the House for support under the legislation which the right hon. Gentleman introduced unless the figure exceeded £5 million. The support for NVT was just below that figure and did not require explicit parliamentary authority.

§ Mr. Tomlinson
Will my right hon. Friend confirm to those of my constituents who are involved in these matters at Meriden that the potential contribution of exports by Triumph motor cycles is such that it is in the national interest for this venture to go ahead, irrespective of all the problems involved?

§ Mr. Benn
That is one, though by no means the only, consideration I have in mind. At a time when exports are most important the skill and craftsmanship of these people should be utilised to the full in seeing that these motor cycles are exported, particularly to the United States.