HC Deb 29 April 1975 vol 891 cc229-30
Q3. Mr. Hurd

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Cowley.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so, Sir.

Mr. Hurd

Does the Lord President accept that the worst service the Government could perform for people who work for British Leyland would be to impose on them the same system of political interference and delays in taking necessary decisions and has reduced the British Steel Corporation to the dismal and uncompetitive state which its chairman revealed last week?

Mr. Short

That should be the very last thing that should come from the Conservative Party. If the Conservatives want to talk about political interference with the British Steel Corporation, per- haps the hon. Member will consider the years 1970 to 1974.

Mr. Luard

Will my right hon. Friend inform the Prime Minister that if he chooses to visit my constituency he will be most welcome? If the Prime Minister decides to make such a visit, will my right hon. Friend ask him to take account of the very substantial improvement in industrial relations that has taken place in Cowley over the past year, to note that the motor workers in Cowley have accepted a wage increase for this year which is well within the social contract and to express the hope that this may bring about an alteration in the kind of comments that are widely made about Cowley workers?

Mr. Short

We recognise at once the improvement to which my hon. Friend has referred, but we should be perfectly straightforward and say that greatly improved industrial relations are one of the prerequisites for the viability of British Leyland. We would look for that improvement and expect it after the action that the Government are taking. On my hon. Friend's first point, my right hon. Friend loves to visit my hon. Friend's constituency. I am sure that if invited he would be very pleased to come.

Mr. Cyril Smith

Will the Lord President advise the Prime Minister that if he visits British Leyland and speaks to the managing director, or the man who is ceasing to be managing director, he should make it clear that some of us would view with grave concern any suggestion that as much as £200,000 should be paid in compensation to that man for loss of office? Many of us would at least prefer one nought to be crossed off the end of that sum.

Mr. Short

I cannot answer on that matter. I do not know the contractual position. Certainly the Prime Minister and everyone else will take note of what the hon. Gentleman has said.

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