HC Deb 26 January 1976 vol 904 cc9-10
5. Mr. Aitken

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on his most recent negotiations with the Chrysler Corporation.

Mr. Varley

A copy of the agreement signed on 5th January and certain supporting documents were placed in the Library on 19th January. We are now pursuing a number of issues with the company, including arrangements for monitoring, a planning agreement and the appointment of Government-nominated directors.

Mr. Aitken

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the House has a real responsibility to monitor the spending of taxpayers' money on Chrysler? Is he further aware that this responsibility cannot adequately be dealt with so long as the Government refuse to allow his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to come before the Select Committee on Expenditure and answer questions on this whole matter? Finally, does he by any chance recall the parliamentary phrase, used in the context of ministerial responsibility by the late Aneurin Bevan, to the effect "Why do we bother to put questions to the monkey when we really need to question the organ grinder?" Is not that peculiarly appropriate to the refusal to allow the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to answer questions?

Mr. Varley

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made the position absolutely clear with regard to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and I have nothing at all to add to that.

Mr. William Hamilton

Can my right hon. Friend venture an opinion himself on whether he would object to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster appearing before the Select Committee? Does not my right hon. Friend recognise that it is one of the most important principles of the House that all Select Committees shall have the right to send for persons and papers which the Committee—not the Executive—thinks relevant to its investigations?

Mr. Varley

Ministerial responsibility for the Chrysler support operation rests squarely with the Department of Industry. That is the position that we have adopted, and that is the position to which we shall adhere.

Mr. Madel

Can the right hon. Gentleman say a little more about how public money will be used on the investment front? Surely the House has a right to know how investment money will be apportioned among Dunstable, the Midlands and Linwood. As a new van or truck is promised in 1978, can he be more forthcoming on this matter?

Mr. Varley

I do not know precisely what information the hon. Gentleman would like in addition to what we have already provided. If he would like to ask a specific question about the allocation of money for particular developments, I should be pleased if he would do so in writing to me. If it is appropriate for me to answer his question, I shall do so, but if it is something exclusively for the Chrysler Corporation, perhaps I could pass his letter on to the Corporation.