HC Deb 15 January 1979 vol 960 cc1293-5
2. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects next to have an official meeting with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to discuss problems affecting the United Kingdom motor vehicle industry.

The Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. Eric G. Varley)

I have no immediate plans to do so.

Mr. Dykes

Will the Secretary of State have a meeting with the SMMT this week to assess the effects of the industrial disputes currently affecting the motor industry? Will he guide the House by saying how many motor cars for export, he feels, are being stopped between factory and docks? Does he believe that the industry is right in saying that by the end of this week all production will have ceased?

Mr. Varley

If the SMMT asks to come and see me, I shall certainly see it. I have had correspondence with it over the past few days, but not about the current difficulties.

The immediate position of the motor car industry is difficult to assess, but I am told that Ford, Chrysler and Vauxhall consider that lay-offs will become necessary by the end of this week and that the situation is getting extremely serious at British Leyland as well.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport tells me that the computer at Swansea has available the statistics showing the country of origin of cars registered in this country, will my right hon. Friend discuss with his colleague the Secretary of State for Transport the need urgently to control, by some quota system, the number of foreign cars registered here from month to month?

Mr. Varley

If it is a question of information, I do whatever I can to obtain it from my right hon. Friend. Last year the overall performance *of the British motor car industry was not good. For example, the car market was up by 20 per cent. but production was down by about 6 per cent. The market for commercial vehicles was 15 per cent. up, but production was 4 per cent. down. Clearly, therefore, there is a great deal of scope for improving our performance and cutting back on imports.

Mr. John Page

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider initiating further discussions with the SMMT on the position of the motor industry in the present dispute, realising that it is not only a matter of the motor manufacturers having difficulties in getting supplies and raw materials into their factories, but of components manufacturers having difficulties in getting raw materials and components for themselves? Has the right hon. Gentleman any information that he can give on indirect picketing in this context?

Mr. Varley

There is nothing further that I can say to the House on the basis of the information that we have so far, but if the SMMT asks for a meeting, of course I shall see it. I assure the hon. Gentleman that I am in touch with the four companies that I mentioned.