§ 14. Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has received the comments of the National Enterprise Board on the performance of British Leyland in the 12 months following the then Prime Minister's undertaking given to the House in May 1975.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. Les Huckfield)The National Enterprise Board has reported to my right hon. Friend on the performance of British Leyland since September 1975, and he is considering its comments.
§ Mr. MillerThe hon. Gentleman will surely recall the Prime Minister's undertaking that these comments should be made available to the House. When will they be made available?
§ Mr. HuckfieldI am sure the hon. Gentleman will recognise that certain of these comments have regard to matters of commercial confidentiality, but we hope to put the main points of the submission before the House, together with our consideration of them, before the recess.
§ Mr. CryerWill my hon. Friend comment on the continually churlish attitude of the Opposition, who would have let British Leyland go to the wall? Will he also comment on the performance of British workpeople at British Leyland in converting a considerable deficit into a profit within 12 months?
§ Mr. HuckfieldI am sure that my hon. Friend's comments have been noted by many of us in this House who represent motor car manufacturing constituencies. As he says, the Conservative Party must make up its mind whether it wants a British car industry. To judge from its performance so far, it does not seem to want one.
§ Mr. Tom KingWhat attitude are the Government taking towards the capital investment proposals of British Leyland with regard to the more expensive part of its range, in view of the Government's activities in the Finance Bill, designed to ensure that British Leyland has no domestic market for them?
§ Mr. HuckfieldI am sure that the hon. Gentleman will have regard to the statement made by my hon. Friend in Committee last Thursday. These matters are still being considered. As I am sure the hon. Gentleman realises, it is a matter of co-ordinating micro- and macroeconomic strategy.