HC Deb 27 February 1978 vol 945 cc22-3
13. Mr. Forman

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the Government's industrial policy.

Mr. Alan Williams

The aim of the Government's industrial policy is to help British industry establish a firm competitive base.

Mr. Forman

Does not the right hon. Gentleman accept that it is almost impossible to believe any such statement from a Minister when the level of industrial production now is lower than it was when the Government took office?

Mr. Williams

I draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to the recession which happens to be going on in the world.

Mr. Ioan Evans

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Government's industrial policy is to maintain industries such as British Leyland in which over 1 million people are employed? Will he resist the sniping from the Tory Party? Will he tell the Conservative Opposition that they should be supporting British industry and that they should clunk, click and belt up as far as British Leyland is concerned?

Mr. Williams

There would have been massive increases in unemployment throughout the United Kingdom if the policies and statements by the Conservative Opposition had been implemented.

Mr. Michael Marshall

Will the Minister take the opportunity to think again about his earlier answer on British Steel and its relationship to the industrial strategy? The Select Committee's report contains a number of features which Sir Charles Villiers says are useful. Will he recognise that the criticism of his colleagues on the Select Committee should be aired at the earliest possible moment and that, therefore, the normal procedures for Select Committee reports will not do? Will he use his influence to have an early two-day debate?

Mr. Williams

I have nothing to add to what I have said—that we will deal with the matter in the normal way.

Mr. Heffer

As part of the Government's industrial policy is to get industry into areas of high unemployment, such as Mersey side, and as we are now faced with the closure of the Speke factory on Merseyside, adding a further 3,000 workers to the 90,000 unemployed already in the area, will my right hon. Friend have a word with the Secretary of State again and suggest that there should be further discussions with the Chairman of British Leyland to see whether, even at this stage, there can be a change in policy in relation to the transfer of the Speke factory to other parts of the country? Will my right hon. Friend make this a matter of great urgency in view of the serious problems which have developed in that area?

Mr. Williams

I appreciate the deep concern of my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer) and others from Merseyside who came to see my right hon. Friend and myself recently, but I can only reiterate what he and they were told—that the future of Speke is a matter now for internal decision and consultation within British Leyland.