Commons Sitting of 7 February 1980

Preamble
The House met at haf-past Two o'clock
PRAYERS
[Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair]

PRIVATE BUSINESS
WEST MIDLANDS COUNTY COUNCIL BILL [Lords]
Order for consideration of Lords reason for disagreeing to one of the Commons amendments, read.
To be considered upon Thursday 14 February.
COUNTY OF MERSEYSIDE BILL [Lords] (By Order)
Order for consideration of Bill as amended, read.
To be considered upon Thursday 21 February.
Later—
The Chairman of Ways and Means (Mr. Bernard Weatherill): May I make a personal statement to the House? At the time of Private Business this afternoon I intended to appoint Thursday next at 7 o'clock for the County of Merseyside Bill. By a slip of the tongue I said Thursday 21 February. I hope that the House will forgive me and allow the Bill to be put down at 7 o'clock on Thursday next.
Mr. Speaker: Order. It takes a very good right hon. Member at the end of Prime Minister's questions to unite the House.
TYNE AND WEAR BILL [Lords] (By Order)
Order for Second Reading read.
To be read a Second time upon Thursday 21 February.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Persons on Remand
    Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland are currently on remand awaiting trial.
    The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Michael Alison): Apart from those on bail, there were on 27 January 353 persons held either on remand or awaiting trial.
    Mr. Dubs: Does the Minister agree that some of these have been in gaol, awaiting trial for a long time? Given that some of them at least are bound to be innocent, will he consider the possibility of ensuring that the trials are speeded up?
    Mr. Alison: We are doing our best to speed up the trials. Indeed, we have managed to reduce the numbers of those on remand, or awaiting trial, from 600 two years ago, through 500 last year, down to 353 this year.
    Rev. Ian Paisley: Will the Minister tell the House what is the longest period for which a person has been on remandin Northern Ireland?
    Mr. Alison: The answer is more than two years, but in special circumstances in one unique case. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman giving him specific information.
    Mr. John: Is not the average length of time spent on remand or awaiting trial between six and nine months? Ought not that to be shortened, became delay in itself can prejudice the fairness of a trial by blurring memories? Does not the Minister feel that more judges ought to be appointed urgently, so as to reduce the waiting list?
    Mr. Alison: We have been considering every possible way of hastening the process. I think I am right in saying that the average is 40 weeks, which is a long time. However, the average figure is itself somewhat misleading in reality.
    The real trouble, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman appreciates this, is

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    that the sorts of cases that we are confronted with—often multiple murders, other litigants involved, other criminal charges involved—the shortage of detectives and the pressure on the judicial and criminal system in the Province, make it difficult to get things done as quickly as we would like.
    As the hon. Gentleman will appreciate from the answer that I gave to his hon. Friend the Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs), we have succeeded in reducing quite dramatically the length of time and the numbers involved.

    Security
    Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by Her Majesty's Government in defeating Irish Republican Army terrorism.
    Mr. Trippierasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.
    Mr. McQuadeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement concerning security in Northern Ireland.
    Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the security situation in the Province.
    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Humphrey Atkins): Since I last answered questions on 20 December, 12 persons have been charged with murder, including one person charged with a murder committed as long ago as 1973. The House will be glad to note that the law continues to reach into the past in such matters. During the same period 11 persons have been charged with attempted murder, and 58 persons have been charged with other terrorist-type offences. The House will also have noted with satisfaction a number of recent successes by the Army in preventing major explosive attacks, and by the security forces of the Irish Republic in seizing terrorist arms and explosives.
    I regret to say, however, that the IRA has continued its senseless campaign of violence. Considerable damage was caused to buildings in Armagh, Aughnacloy and Kilrea on 15 January and to the
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    Auction Rooms in Belfast on Monday 4 February. Twenty buses were destroyed or damaged by terrorist devices in the Falls Road bus depot on 1 February. On 17 January a bomb exploded on a train killing not only the IRA terrorist carrying it but two totally innocent passengers. In all, 17 people have died as a result of terrorist action since 20 December, nine civilians, seven members of the security forces and one member of the prison service.
    As I stressed to the House on 20 December, this catalogue of outrages demonstrates that the terrorists have nothing to offer the people of Northern Ireland, except destruction and division.
    The security forces will continue their intensive operations to counter terrorist activity through the law and bring criminals to justice.
    Several Hon. Members—
    Mr. Speaker: Order. I propose to call first those hon. Members whose questions are being answered.
    Mr. Robinson: In view of the appalling catalogue of security statistics which the Secretary of State has outlined, does he feel that it is time for the review that he promised he would undertake if the situation continued as it was? In particular, can he tell us what measures he intends to take following his review of security on public transport?
    Mr. Atkins: As I told the House in my statement a few Fridays ago, we have reviewed security on public transport and have taken a number of steps. I do not think that it would be in the public interest to detail those steps, but we have intensified the security precautions on public transport in a way which, I hope, will prevent further outrages on trains, such as happened the other day. We are continuing to review the method of operation of the security forces. Week after week we study how best we can counter the activities of the terrorists, who know no law. We must abide by the law and use our forces in the best way that we can.
    Mr. Trippier: As a result of my right hon. Friend's discussions with Ministers of the Republic on co-operation on security across the border, can he tell the

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    House how many arrests and arms finds have been made in both Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland?
    Mr. Atkins: I cannot give the House the specific figures for which my hon. Friend has asked. What I can say is that co-operation between the security forces of Northern Ireland and those of the Republic is extremely valuable. I am happy to say that it is working well and is producing results. Of course, the individual forces of both Northern Ireland and the Republic will continue to do everything that they can in their own areas, but the co-operation between them is something that we value very much, and it is producing results.
    Mr. McQuade: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Provisional IRA is both drilling and parading in Republican areas? What action does he intend to take to stop it?
    Mr. Atkins: I hope that the hon. Gentleman, and everyone else, will co-operate with the security forces. The moment that they hear of any illegal parades taking place, the security forces will take immediate action. I hope that everyone will co-operate, because these kinds of parades and activities are distasteful to everyone, and are illegal, which is the main point.
    Mr. McNair-Wilson: Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment, particularly in the border areas? In view of a recent statement that the regiment could do with 500 more part-time members, will the right hon. Gentleman consider increasing the bounty provided to the regiment, to bring it into line with the Territorial Army?
    Mr. Atkins: We continually seek to increase the strength of the UDR. Indeed, a recruiting campaign is under way which I hope will produce an accretion to its strength. The UDR does not play quite the same front role in the border areas as it does in 11 of the other police districts. However, its activities are extremely valuable and the more recruits, that we can get, the better. The question of the bounty is one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, and I know that he is examining it urgently.
    Mr. Molyneaux: Does the Secretary of State agree that vindictive accusations against the security forces are treated as an incitement to murder Army, UDR and RUC personnel? Does he further agree that those who engage in such vile propaganda are every bit as guilty as those who pull the trigger?
    Mr. Atkins: The security forces, be they Regular Army or policemen, are the front line of defence for the ordinary citizen of Northern Ireland. What I have repeatedly said, and say again, is that it is in the interests of every peace-loving citizen of the Province to support the security forces. Attacks on the forces have been mounted consistently over a period of years, and they do nothing but undermine the peace and security of the Province.
    Mr. Dalyell: In his more reflective moments, does the Secretary of State think that in his efforts to counter the IRA it was altogether wise to spurn the offers of help—for such they were—from Governor Carey, Congressman O'Neill and other Americans?
    Mr. Atkins: The greatest help that Governor Carey, Congressman O'Neill and other Americans can give, and have given, is to seek to stem the flow of money from the United States to the IRA. For that we are all extremely grateful. I shall do everything that I can to ensure that people in the United States understand what is happening in Northern Ireland, and any help that can be given will be extremely welcome.
    Mr. Kilfedder: As the Provisional IRA is still claiming the lives of many innocent people, including that of the boy who was burnt to death on the train, surely even the right hon. Gentleman must realise that new and stronger measures must be taken against these psychopathic killers. Will he seriously consider summoning the Northern Ireland Committee to meet at Stormont, if necessary in camera, to debate security and to call before it anyone connected with protecting the lives of people in Northern Ireland, so that at least we can see some progress?
    Mr. Atkins: When and where the Northern Ireland Committee meets is not a matter for me, but I note what the hon. Gentleman says.
    Mr. John: Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to reconsider the Government's disagreement with the civilian searchers? This dedicated band of people are responsible for keeping open the commercial life of Belfast's city centre, but they have no power of arrest. Surely civilian searchers should be accompanied by someone, be he soldier or policeman, who has that power of arrest, so that if they apprehend a malefactor he can be arrested immediately.
    Mr. Atkins: I and other Ministers met the civilian searchers and their representatives in Belfast before we altered the arrangements. I am happy to say that the civilian searchers are continuing their duties. I stressed to them, as did members of the security forces, that the arrangements that we have made to provide protection for them in no way reduced their safety. They have power to search, but they do not have powers of arrest. However, the security forces are within reach and can be summoned to arrest people with whom there are difficulties. I am happy to say that the civilian search unit is still operating just as efficiently as ever it was.
    Mr. John: The right hon. Gentleman evades the real point. The civilian searchers are certainly working normally, and that is a great tribute to them, but in no way do they feel persuaded by the adequacy of the present arrangements. How on earth are they to detain people while they go out to look for someone to arrest them? That is the crucial problem that has not yet been answered.
    Mr. Atkins: Let me put the hon. Gentleman right. Civilian searchers do not go out to look for someone. There are arrangements whereby they can summon assistance within seconds or minutes if there are difficulties. I hope that they are satisfied with these arrangements. I believe that they are, because as I have said, they are working just as efficiently as ever.

    Constitutional Conference
    Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about the constitutional conference including the parallel talks with political parties.
    Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the progress of his constitutional talks with the political parties in Northern Ireland.
    Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has considered any final date for the ending of the conference on Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
    Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the constitutional conference and other talks taking place on Northern Ireland; and what is their cost to date.
    Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress made during the present conference on the constitutional future of Northern Ireland.
    Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about the progress of the constitutional conference on Northern Ireland.
    Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the progress of his constitutional discussions with political leaders in the Province.
    Mr. Humphrey Atkins: The conference opened on Monday 7 January in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, under my chairmanship. It is attended by representatives of the Alliance, Ulster Democratic Unionist, and Social Democratic and Labour parties. The invitation extended to the Official Unionist Party was declined.
    The object of the conference is to identify the highest level of agreement on the transfer to locally elected representatives in Northern Ireland of some of the powers of government. The conference has so far held 17 sessions. It meets again the week after next.
    After general policy papers had been presented by the parties, an order of business was agreed, based on the questions in the Government's working paper, Cmnd 7763. Because the separate agenda items interlock, the conference, after preliminary discussion of them, is likely to return to them at a later stage. The conference is at present engaged in

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    a detailed consideration of how a devolved administration would work in practice and of the role of the minority in it.
    While, of course, there are major differences of view among participants, the conference discussions have been serious and businesslike. I take this opportunity on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to thank all participants. I shall, in due course, report to the House the outcome of the conference. As there is still much work to be done, I cannot set a final date for the conference.
    As regards parallel talks, these are with Northern Ireland political leaders on matters outside the scope of the conference, but relevant to the relationship between Her Majesty's Government and any new elected body in Northern Ireland. I met leading members of the SDLP on Wednesday 30 January, when they set out their views on matters relating to security. There will be further meetings on this and other subjects.
    The extra cost to public funds of the conference up to 1 February is estimated at £23,000.
    Several hon. Members—
    Mr. Speaker: Order. I propose to call first the seven hon. Members whose questions are being answered. I then hope to give a fair run to the House.
    Mr. Biggs-Davison: Since it is alleged by the SDLP that Unionist-majority district councils cannot be trusted to treat the minority fairly, will my right hon. Friend appoint what might be called a little Macrory inquiry to ascertain what structure of regional and local bodies can best prevent that?
    Mr. Atkins: I know that allegations of this kind have been made. There is statutory machinery for considering these matters—the Commissioner for Complaints, the Fair Employment Agency, and so on. But these, admittedly, are somewhat cumbersome bodies and rather slow to act. I think that the purposes of the conference include what my hon. Friend suggests. It is essential that government in Northern Ireland, whether at district council or higher level not only works properly but is seen to work properly and takes account of the interests of everyone. That is what the
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    conference is about. It is a matter to which we are giving close attention.
    Mr. van Straubenzee: It has been suggested that the holding of a constitutional conference does not have the support of the people of Northern Ireland. Can my right hon. Friend make any estimate of the degree of support that there is, or is not, for his patient efforts at reconciliation?
    Mr. Atkins: This is a difficult thing to do. All of us in the House claim that we do not rely on public opinion polls. Nor do we. But there was a poll before the conference started in Northern Ireland, which indicated—[Interruption.] I do not rely on the poll, but it said that 84 per cent. of the people in Northern Ireland thought that the conference was a good idea. I do not know whether that is true, but my understanding is that a considerable majority of people in Northern Ireland think that it is right, at this time, for the political leaders of the Province to sit down with Her Majesty's Government to see whether we can find a way by which power can be transferred to elected representatives in Northern Ireland. That is what we are doing.
    Mr. Flannery: Is it not a fact that a sense of helplessness and hopelessness pervades the vast majority of the people of the Republic and of the United Kingdom, most of whom are not even watching this conference? Is not this engendered by certain powerful sections, particularly the Official Unionists, who refuse even to talk to the other side? Are not there ultimately bound to be conversations and discussions between the various groupings? Is not the time fast approaching when our people will demand, in the interests of democracy, that all those concerned come together and thrash out how they can cross the sectrian divide and arrive at some conclusion by which peace can be achieved?
    Mr. Atkins: I do not think that it would be wise for me to comment on the hon. Gentleman's observations about the Official Unionist Party. I shall not do so. I believe that the hon. Gentleman is wrong in referring to a sense of hopelessness. I detect exactly the opposite. I detect in Northern Ireland a feeling among ordinary people that here is an opportunity by which the British Government are genuinely seeking ways to

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    return democracy to the Province and asking the political leaders whom the people chose—we did not choose them—to come together and see how best this can be done. Rather than the sense of hopelessness mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, I would say the opposite is true. I believe that there is an air of expectancy and hopefulness.
    Mr. Proctor: Will my right hon. Friend and the Cabinet give equal attention and weight to the discussions and outcome of the Mark II conference with the SDLP on the Irish dimension as they will to the Mark I conference?
    Mr. Atkins: The discussions that I am having with political parties outside the conference proper are extremely important. They relate to matters of great concern to the people of Northern Ireland—the security situation, the economy and other matters that are not strictly for discussion at the conference, but about which people have determined and important views. They also affect the relationship that will exist between Her Majesty's Government and any newly elected body in the Province.
    I regard these discussions as important. I have suggested that they should take place with a number of parties, but it is for the parties to decide whether they wish to do that. So far, I have had discussions with the SDLP, and I am looking forward to having discussions with other parties.
    Mr. Stanbrook: Many people will sympathise with the view of the Official Unionists that their attendance at the multilateral talks is a waste of time. But the parallel talks, I understand, are bilateral in nature and may be of even greater importance than the main conference. Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that an invitation has gone to the Official Unionists to participate in the bilateral talks and that if any significant development comes out of the bilateral talks with the other parties they will be told about it?
    Mr. Atkins: Yes, Sir. The Official Unionist Party has been invited to this other series of talks. I hope very much that I can meet the leaders of the Official Unionist Party to talk about these important matters.
    Mr. Canavan: Bearing in mind that one of the first actions of the Tory Government was to repeal the Scotland Act, against the wishes of the majority who voted in the referendum, will the Secretary of State say whether the Government have any plans to use a referendum to test the acceptability of any devolution proposals for Northern Ireland; and, if so, whether they will resort to any devious tricks, such as the 40 per cent. rule, which was meant to sabotage the Scottish referendum?
    Mr. Atkins: The basis of what the Government are doing is to seek a way forward which is acceptable to the people of Northern Ireland. There are a variety of ways in which one can test acceptability. A referendum is one. We have not ruled it out.
    Mr. Latham: As the Official Unionists apparently do not wish to take part in the conference, or even to take part in questions today, will my right hon. Friend confirm that the offer remains open should wiser counsels prevail.
    Mr. Atkins: Yes, Sir. I regard it as important that the views of the Official Unionist Party should be taken fully into account by Her Majesty's Government when deciding how to proceed. The offer is open, and remains open, and I hope that in due course it will be taken up.
    Mr. Stallard: Is any official record being kept of the conference? What steps can the Secretary of State take to make available to hon. Members and, through us, to the public, details of the progress that is being made, or not being made?
    Mr. Atkins: No official record, such as Hansard, is being kept of the conference. We agree on a statement to the press. It is the wish of the participants that the conference and the discussions there should be conducted round the table rather than on television. The conference, at the suggestion of its participants—it was not my suggestion—adopted what I might call a self-denying ordinance, which means that the participants do not go out immediately afterwards and on the radio and television, and in the newspapers, tell everyone what has happened. This has the advantage that the discussions can be entered upon in the knowledge that they

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    will not be read about in the press the next day.
    I emphasise that the conference is only the first step along a road which goes a great deal further than that. The purpose is to find what level of agreement exists between the parties which are there. Thereafter the Government will have to decide how to proceed. They will have to consult people who are not at the conference, they will obviously have to consult the House, and then they will have to make up their mind. This is an important step, but it is only the first.
    Mr. Stan Thorne: During the conference, has the Secretary of State had discussions with the participants on the question of the reunification of Ireland? If not, when will the conference get round to considering that question?
    Mr. Atkins: If the hon. Gentleman will do me the courtesy of reading the working paper, he will see from paragraph 4 that this is specifically not a matter which the conference is invited to discuss.
    Mr. Kilfedder: In his original answer the Secretary of State made what was, for him, a revealing statement when he said that the purpose of the conference was to find the highest level of agreement among the parties at the conference. Since the majority of Unionists throughout Northern Ireland are not represented at the conference and are represented by only a minority Unionist party, will he give an assurance that when the conference formally ends—because it is dead already—he will not introduce legislation based on the majority decisions or judgement of that conference?
    Mr. Atkins: The statement that I made was not revealing, because I have been saying it all the time. The purpose of the conference is to seek the highest level of agreement among the people who come to it. I am sorry that the conference is missing one party. I am equally well aware that there are other parties—old and new—which are not at the conference, and it is obviously the business of Her Majesty's Government to hear the views of those people. That we shall seek to do. There can be no question of our relying entirely upon what we achieve at the conference. We shall have
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    a lot more consultation to do in London, naturally, and consultation with this House.
    The hon. Gentleman said that he thought the conference was dead. If he were to talk to those who have been there, he would find that it is very much alive.
    Mr. John: Has the right hon. Gentleman heard statements that, in the event of failure of the conference, the Government may despair of ever reaching agreement and impose a solution upon Northern Ireland? Will he take this opportunity to deny that and give an undertaking to resist that temptation, however strong it may be?
    Mr. Atkins: The hon. Gentleman and the House, I hope, know me well enough to know that I do not despair very easily. I do not for a moment believe that we shall not find any level of agreement; I am sure that we shall. How high that level will be I cannot tell the House as yet, but I shall report regularly to the House.
    Clearly, when the conference has concluded its useful work the Government will have to consider how best to proceed. They will have to consult other parties and people in the Province, and this House, before deciding on what to ask this House to approve. As the House knows very well, in the end it is Parliament that will decide.
    Mr. Freeson: Is it intended during the course of the conference or the parallel consultations to study the development of possible anti-poverty programmes, on a comprehensive basis, for inner city and other areas of the Province?
    Mr. Atkins: The Government are all the time seeking ways to improve the economic life of the Province. It is not the purpose of the conference to discuss that. This is a conference about political structures and political institutions. It may be that in the end the Government will recommend to the House that power over these matters should be transferred to somebody in Northern Ireland, but I cannot tell yet. These matters continue to engage our close attention, but they are not the subject of discussion round the table.

    Suspected Terrorists (Interrogation)
    Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he proposes to take to make more effective the procedures for the interrogation of terrorist suspects.
    Mr. Humphrey Atkins: The operational procedures for detaining and interviewing suspected terrorists are determined by the Chief Constable and promulgated by him in force orders. He is well aware of the need to ensure that interrogation procedures are both effective and observe the proper standards of treatment.
    Mr. Marlow: Can my right hon. Friend tell the House which of the main recommendations of the Bennett report have been introduced and, since they have been introduced, what the effect has been on the flow of intelligence and information from interrogation? If, as some people believe, that flow of information has been reduced significantly, what proposals has he to restore the level of intelligence to what it was before?
    Mr. Atkins: I am able to tell the House that all the recommendations of the Bennett committee that were accepted by the Government have been put into effect. As to their outcome, it is early yet to give a precise figure, but I am able to tell the House that there is virtually no difference between the percentage of people charged after arrest and questioning within the last few months compared with a year ago.
    I hesitate to draw the conclusion that there has been no change at all, but the indications are encouraging. I should perhaps remind the House that the Bennett committee made many recommendations. One was that members of the RUC involved in interrogation should undergo a course of training to make them more efficient.
    Mr. Fitt: Does the Secretary of State recall that the publication of the Bennett report aroused a good deal of controversy, hostility and tension because of the clear implications contained in that report that undue pressure had been used by the police in an effort to get convictions? Is he aware that since the publication of the Bennett report a mass of cases have arisen—there is one before the
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    courts now in relation to the La Mon tragedy, and that many of the people before the courts have said that they were beaten, that confessions were extracted from them, and that they did not make confessions willingly? In those circumstances, does the Secretary of State agree that it is of the utmost importance that the police are seen to be adhering strictly to the law in their efforts to get convictions before the courts?
    Mr. Atkins: If I may say so, the hon. Gentleman is wrong in one respect. It was not so much the Bennett report as the Amnesty International report that said that. The Bennett report went into the allegations in the Amnesty report in great detail and showed that of the 3,000 cases that had been mentioned, in only a small handful could there be any justification for accusing the police of ill-treating suspects. Nevertheless, the Government accepted all the recommendations of the Bennett report intended to ensure that suspects were properly treated—which it is our business to do—and to protect the police against this kind of ill-informed attack.
    I know of no case, since we have accepted and put into operation the recommendations of the Bennett report, in which allegations of cruelty against the police have been substantiated in the courts. I am sure that they will be made. It is in the interests of people opposed to law and order in Northern Ireland to make them, and they will go on doing it. But they are not substantiated, and I believe that with the methods under which the police now operate they will not be.
    Rev. Ian Paisley: Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that it is a ploy of IRA people, when they are arrested and charged, to make these allegations, and that many of the allegations, when brought into court, have been proved to be groundless?
    Mr. Atkins: I would go further than the hon. Gentleman and say that not "many" but most of them have been found to be groundless. I am convinced that this is because the Royal Ulster Constabulary operates in a most efficient and respectable manner, if I may use that word. It is not in the interests of the RUC

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    to use dubious means to extract confessions, and it does not do so. It is an extremely efficient police force.
    Mr. John: Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that there are many people, including myself, who do not believe that a democratic State is best defended by tilting the balance of the law heavily against an accused person whose freedom is at stake? Will he therefore ignore those who urge further erosion of the rights of the accused?
    Mr. Atkins: It is the object of Government policy—as it was the object of the policy of the Government of whom the hon. Gentleman was a member—to restore the normal rules of civilised law and order to the Province. We are making considerable progress, albeit slowly, in that direction, but that is the target at which the whole House would wish the Government to aim.

    Computer Services
    Mr. Molyneauxasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will encourage the security forces to review arrangements for sharing computer facilities.
    Mr. Alison: The requirements for computer services for both the police and the Army in Northern Ireland are being reviewed.
    Mr. Molyneaux: In that case does the Minister agree that operational units of the RUC should be provided with direct linkage to the central computer, in the same way as the equivalent Army units?
    Mr. Alison: I wholly agree with what the hon. Gentleman suggests, but I would rather not make any comment on the operational aspects of the use of computers by the security forces.

    De Lorean Motor Company Limited
    Mr. Concannonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement with regard to the progress of the De Lorean Motor Company.
    Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a progress report on the De Lorean project.
    The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Giles Shaw): Construction of the assembly building is almost complete and the other buildings
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    are well advanced. The number on the payroll is approximately 250. Pilot production is expected to start in the second quarter of this year.
    Mr. Concannon: No doubt the project is up to date. Can the Minister say anything about the EEC contribution to it and what can be expected in terms of further work and any spin-offs that might flow from this?
    Mr. Shaw: The project has now been brought up to date. There was some slippage in construction, but that has now been rectified. As far as the EEC subvention is concerned, £7½ million has been put into the De Lorean project, and this will abate the liability for public sector payment. The first indication of spin-off is the establishment of the Chamberlain Phipps trim plant in West Belfast, where 450 jobs could well be created.
    Mr. Allan Clark: As there is substantial over-capacity in the vehicle industry, both in the United Kingdom and worldwide, who is expected to buy these cars, and in substitution for what?
    Mr. Shaw: The car is primarily for markets in the United States, and it is my expectation that the sales—two years' production has already been sold into the trade—will largely be there. There will be competition, but I am confident that the car will meet it.
    Mr. Fitt: Does the Under-Secretary of State recall that when the De Lorean project was announced it was welcomed by thousands of people who had been on the unemployment register for years in West Belfast? They believed that they would be given sufficient skills and be trained by the Department to enable them to take up employment with De Lorean. Can the Minister say how many people have been trained and can expect to be given jobs in the De Lorean project?
    Mr. Shaw: As I have said, 250 employees have so far been recruited largely on the management side. Let me assure the hon. Member for Belfast, West (Mr. Fitt) that adequate training facilities will be available. I shall look into any difficulties which he cares to bring to my attention.
    Rev. Ian Paisley: Will the Minister confirm that the De Lorean company has made an application for another £5 million from NIDA?
    Mr. Shaw: No, Sir.

    Mr. Patrick O'Hagan
    Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has yet had consultations regarding the position of Mr. Patrick O'Hagan.
    Mr. Alison: Yes, Sir. We have agreed with the Home Office that when it is known that a prisoner in Northern Ireland is likely to travel to Great Britain on leave or on the completion of his sentence, the chief constable of the area to be visited will be consulted.
    Mr. Cryer: I wonder whether the Northern Ireland Office has made any representations about this case to see whether the exclusion order can be withdrawn, bearing in mind that the arrest and detention of Patrick O'Hagan whilst on leave from prison—duly authorised and informed to the police—was without precedent, and in the belief that it was unjust that the Home Office and the West Yorkshire police should so act?
    Mr. Alison: The merits or otherwise of making exclusion orders in Great Britain do not fall to my righthon. Friends or to myself to decide. We were simply concerned with the mechanics of the travel incident involved. As I told the hon. Gentleman, we have considered the procedures, and they are being revised?

    ANALYSIS OF STAFF* IN THE GRADE OF HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER† AND
    ABOVE SERVING IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE IN THE YEAR SHOWN

    Permanent staff

    Seconded

    NICS

    UKCS‡

    staff

    Parent Department of seconded staff

    1 January 1976

    …

    179

    43

    53

    Ministry of Defence (14)

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office (10)

    Home Office (9)

    Other (20)§

    1 January 1977

    …

    202

    42

    48

    Ministry of Defence (18)

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office (8)

    Home Office (7)

    Other (15)

    1 January 1978

    …

    235

    53

    33

    Ministry of Defence (9)

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office (7)

    Home Office (6)

    Other (11)

    1 January 1979

    …

    250

    54

    24

    Ministry of Defence (5)

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office (5)

    Home Office (6)

    Other (8)

    1 January 1980

    …

    269

    57

    26

    Ministry of Defence (6)

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office (5)

    Home Office (5)

    Other (10)

    * Of the Northern Ireland Civil service, the united Kingdom civil service and the Diplomatic service.

    † The grade of assistant principal was abolished in 1969: higher executive officer is the nearest
    equivalent.

    ‡ A number of these civil servants came originally from other Government Departments but have transferred to
    the permanent staff of the Northern Ireland Office.

    § Other Departments include: Department of Industry, Customs and Excise, Department of Health and Social
    Security, Department of Employment, Civil Service Department, Inland Revenue, Natural Environment Research Council,
    Metropolitan Police Office, Land Registry, Treasury, Lord Chancellor's Department.

    Department Officials
    Mr. J. Enoch Powellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the normal period of service of officials of the rank of assistant principal and above in his department; and if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis of the Department in which such officials had previously served, for the last convenient five-year period.
    Mr. Humphrey Atkins: Ninety-three per cent. of civil servants of the rank of higher executive officer and above in the Northern Ireland Office are serving permanently in the office on a normal career to retirement age. Seven per cent. are serving on secondment from 10 other Government Departments for periods of two to three years. An analysis such as the right hon. Gentleman has asked for is being published in the Official Report.
    Mr. Powell: I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for publishing the analysis. Does he agree that it is especially desirable that his senior advisers should have a depth of experience and knowledge of the Province, which can only be acquired by long service there?
    Mr. Atkins: Yes, Sir.
    Following are the details:

  ETHIOPIA AND SOUTHERN YEMEN
  Mr. Butcherasked the Prime Minister if she will raise in the United Nations as a threat to world peace the involvement of Soviet civilian and military personnel in the internal affairs of Ethiopia and South Yemen.
  The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher): We are concerned at the scale and nature of Soviet involvement, and that of their surrogates, in Ethiopia and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. However, I do not consider it would be effective to raise the matter at the United Nations.
  Mr. Butcher: Does my right hon. Friend agree that this region and these countries are of crucial strategic importance? At present, 17,500 Cubans and 2,200 East German and Russian advisers pose a grave threat to Western interests in the area.
  The Prime Minister: I agree with my hon. Friend that the region is of crucial importance and that there is a grave threat in that area. We are considering with our Allies the whole question of the defence of the Gulf. We recognise what my hon. Friend has said.
  Mr. Dalyell: Is not part of the unpalatable truth that the West is reaping the whirlwind for having endorsed, with military aid, despotic regimes in the Yemen and Ethiopia in the past? Given the deep resentment among the Baluchis in Pakistan, will that lesson be drawn in relation to Pakistan?
  The Prime Minister: I do not wholly agree with the hon. Gentleman's analysis, but we are very much aware of the dangers in the area, and very much aware, too, of the extent to which the Soviet Union has its surrogates not only there but throughout Africa. There are 45,000 Cuban troops in Africa as a whole. We are trying to learn from the lessons of the past.
  Mr. Biggs-Davison: In view of the staunch support rightly given by my right hon. Friend to President Carter in relation to Soviet aggression and imperialism in Asia, and because of the importance of Southern Africa, would not some solidarity from the United States over Zimbabwe-Rhodesia be welcome?
  The Prime Minister: Southern Africa is undoubtedly of great strategic importance. I think that my hon. Friend is possibly referring to the motion passed in the Security Council on Zimbabwe Rhodesia the other day, and perhaps to some of the votes. May I draw his attention to some of the explanations of vote in particular, as he refers to that of the United States. The speech that the United States representative made in the Security Council contained this phrase:
  "Those of us who are not parties to this difficult agreement should exhibit forbearance in our criticism. In particular, we doubt that the British need lectures on the conduct of free and fair elections from some who obviously have no experience with such elections."

  PRIME MINISTER (ENGAGEMENTS)
  Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 February.
  The Prime Minister: This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.
  Mr. Wilson: Will the Prime Minister take time off today to look at reports in the press earlier this week that Britain is now the second most active foreign industrial investor in the United States economy? When will she ask her right hon. Friend to alter the economic policies of the Government so as to improve investment at home and bring jobs back to areas such as mine, which are running into high rates of unemployment?
  The Prime Minister: I think that it is probably advisable for Britain to undertake a good deal of overseas investment. After all, we need the income from it. Unless we get income from overseas investment we shall not have the money to pay the interest on the vast amounts of overseas investment in this country. I am also happy to see that there is a great deal of overseas investment by those who run the pension fund for the National Coal Board. They, too have taken advantage of the relaxation of exchange control to make property investments overseas.
  Mr. Tapsell: Is it not time to bring domestic credit expansion under more effective control by issuing directives to

  735
  the banks and other main lending institutions to reduce their lending to within the declared Government monetary limits?
  The Prime Minister: If that of itself would work, we would be prepared to consider it. But there has been an enormous so-called explosion in financial technology, which means there are various ways of getting around lending by banks. Of course, that means that any such directive to the banks would largely be inoperative, because the lending would be transferred to other financial institututions.
  Mr. Edwin Wainwright: Has the Prime Minister seen the article in today's Daily Star by Mr. David Buchan? When the right hon. Lady next meets the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will she explain to him why a party which believes in market forces is now allowing oil to be sold so cheaply that this nation is losing at least £700 million a year at the present rate? In the next two or three years this loss is expected to run to £2,000 million. Do the Government still believe in market forces.
  The Prime Minister: The Government certainly believe in market forces. I believe that the hon. Member's question relates to the price of North Sea oil. We have certainly been trying to keep down the price increase in oil—rightly so—and for the month of January we were not prepared to allow the price to go higher than $29.75, which was the price being charged for a comparable grade of oil in Nigeria. Unfortunately, world prices of the same grade are rising, particulary in Libya, Algeria and Nigeria, and the price of ours will go up too.
  Mr. Hugh Fraser: Doer, my right hon. Friend agree that the best price that we can get for our oil internationally is the best price that we can get? Good luck to us. Does she agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Horncastle (Mr. Tapsell) about domestic credit expansion through credit cards, hire purchase, and so on? Does she agree also that the time has come for the Bank of England to issue an instruction?
  The Prime Minister: I think that it needs something more effective than an instruction. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has made a statement and there will be a consultative document coming
  736
  out soon about the possibility of a different method of controlling the money supply by a monetary base. That would be very much fiercer than anything we have at present.
  Mr. James Callaghan: As members of the Cabinet seem to be tumbling over themselves to tell the press where they stand on the Employment Bill—[Hon. Members: "Shabby"] and in view of the obvious difficulties, in the Cabinet in reaching agreement on this matter, will the Prime Minister consider dropping this proposal for the moment, in order to call in the TUC to discuss how agreement can be reached on the satisfactory limitation of secondary action? As, the right hon. Lady will find that the law will never operate satisfactorily is this area, would it not be far better for her to try to get voluntary agreement?
  The Prime Minister: On the right hon. Gentleman's first point, I note in the papers that members of previous Cabinets have been tumbling over themselves to write their memoirs. Secondly, we will not withdraw the Employment Bill. There is a great deal in that Bill that would deal with secondary picketing that is going on and which we believe should not be. Certainly we must press ahead with that Bill as soon as possible and get out a consultation document to deal with the latest House of Lords' judgment.
  Mr. Callaghan: If the Prime Minister refutes to learn from experience, may I put another point to her? Obviously it is not a simple matter—if it were, there would not be all these divisions in the Cabinet. It is not a fact that what is needed is a permanent solution to the problem? That will not be done on the basis of decisions in the Cabinet, which are then ironed over.
  If, despite all experience in this matter, the Prime Minister persists and goes ahead with the new proposals on secondary action, will she give an undertaking that this, issue will not be sent upstairs to 24 members of the Committee, but will be brought before the whole House for full discussion here so that we can examine the proposals and take the decision?
  The Prime Minister: On the first point about the law on picketing, I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will agree that some of the troubles that we have

  737
  today have been caused by the immunity and the secondary action permitted under the law, which is drawn too widely. They need to be drawn more narrowly by the law. That will be the object of the consultation document. Certainly, if there are major changes to be made to the Employment Bill upstairs, arising out of that consultation document, we will follow previous precedents and discuss them on the Floor of the House, before they are committed to the Standing Committee.
  Mr. David Steel: Has the Prime Minister heard the news from the Council of Agriculture Ministers this morning about the sale of butter to the Russians at 23p a pound, when it looks as if our pensioners will have to pay more than 83p a pound for the same butter? Will she consider printing commodity vouchers in pension books so that the benefit of this cheap butter may go to our own needy people?
  The Prime Minister: I have heard various news about the common agricultural policy and Europe this morning, and I must confess that I did not like any of it. The Government are fiercely against selling subsidised butter to the Russians. We shall put that as strenuously as we can in all councils.
  Mr. David Price: Does my right hon. Friend agree that there have been far too many innocent victims of industrial warfare in the last year? Is it not time to introduce the equivalent of a Geneva Convention, under which our collective bargaining processes which end up in industrial struggle are limited?
  The Prime Minister: We shall carry out the pledges in our manifesto and ensure that the protection of the law is available to those not affected by a dispute but who are at present suffering severely from secondary action. That was a pledge in the manifesto, and we shall carry it out. A good deal of it will be implemented in the Employment Bill when it becomes law. I beg my hon. Friends to remember that the present position would have been very much better if the Employment Bill had been passed into law by now.

  ST. ABBS, BERWICKSHIRE
  Mr. John Home Robertsonasked the Prime Minister if she will visit St. Abbs, Berwickshire.
  The Prime Minister: I have at present no plans to do so.
  Mr. Home Robertson: I am sorry to hear that. I think that many people would like to talk to the Prime Minister about the village school which is about to close. Is the Prime Minister aware of the mounting fury in all Scottish fishing ports about the flood of black market, imported fish which is coming into the country and ruining the livelihood of our fishermen? Will she take immediate steps to control the over-fishing of the North Sea and if necessary, impose a levy on imported fish?
  The Prime Minister: The hon. Member knows, or will soon know, that there will soon be a debate on fish. I am very much aware of the strong feeling that a large amount of fish is being landed in Scottish ports in competition with our fish. I am closely in touch with my right hon. Friend on this matter.

  FAMILY LIFE
  Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Prime Minister what discussions she has had concerning the measures to support family life.
  The Prime Minister: Much of my work, and the work of other Ministers, on economic and social policies is aimed at improving the position of families.
  Mrs. Short: Does the right hon. Lady recall that under the previous Labour Government low-paid working families received rent rebates, electricity discounts, free school meals and transport, and occasionally clothing allowances from the local education authority? Is she aware that those benefits have disappeared under her Government and that she is making low-paid families bear the brunt of her policies? Will she at least give an assurance to the House that she will ensure that the next Budget contains a substantial increase in child benefit?
  The Prime Minister: With regard to the hon. Lady's first point, she will be aware that it was my right hon. Friend who introduced family income supplement as a supplement to low-paid families. That carries title to a number of other allowances, such as rent rebates, or particular consideration with regard to school transport and school meals. With regard to family benefit, I must ask the hon. Lady to await the Budget.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Mr. James Callaghan: Will the Leader of the House please state the business for next week?
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Norman St. John-Stevas): Yes, Sir. The business for next week will be as follows:
MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY—Remaining stages of the British Aerospace Bill.
TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY and WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY—Remaining stages of the Education (No. 2) Bill.
At the end of the debate on Tuesday: Second Reading of the Consular Fees Bill.
THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY—Debate on a motion on European Community documents on Community fisheries policy. The relevant numbers will appear in the Official Report.
The Chairman of Ways and Means has named opposed private business for consideration at 7 o'clock.
FRIDAY 15 FEBRUARY—Private Members' Bills.
MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY—Second Reading of the Broadcasting Bill.
(The following are the European Community documents on fisheries:
R/107/78 Commons Fisheries Policy.
R/232/78 Fishing Plans.
S/365/78 Norway Fisheries.
R/3012/78 Supervisory Measures.
R/3044/78 Conservation Measures.
R/3045/78 CFP Development.
5877/79 Fishery Resources: by catches.
6276/79 Fishery Resources: by catches.
7348/79 Fishery Resources: by catches.
8392/79 Fisheries NW Atlantic.
8608/79 Fisheries: salmon protection/Baltic Sea.
9912/79 Swedish Salmon: permits.
10285/79 1st Report Scientific/Technical Committee for Fisheries.
11035/79 Fishery Conservation/Management objectives.
10966/79 (TAC) Certain Fish Stocks (1980).
11104/79 Conservation/Fishery resources.
11292/79 Fishery conservation/Norway/Sweden/Faroe Islands.
4096/80 Total catch information/fishing operations.
4481/80 Total Catch Quotas for 1980.
The relevant reports of the European Legislation Committee are the 12th, 15th and 18th Reports of Session 1977–78, the 6th Report of
740
Session 1978–79, and the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th Reports of Session 1979–80.
HC 29-XII (1977–78), paragraph 1; HC 29-XV (1977–78) paragraph 3; HC 29-X VIII (1977–78), paragraph 2; HC 10-VI (1978–79), paragraph 2; HC 159-II (1979–80), paragraph 2; HC 159-III (1979–80), paragraph 15; HC 159-V (1979–80), paragraphs 6 and 7; HC 159-IX (1979–80), paragraph 5; HC 159-XI (1979–80), paragraph 5; HC 59-XIII (1979–80), paragraph 3; HC 159-XV (1979–80), paragraphs 2, 3 and 4; HC 159-XVI (1979–80), paragraphs 1 and 12; HC 158-X VIII, paragraph.
The 18th Report of Session 1979–80 has not yet been published; typescript copies of the relevant paragraph are available in the Vote Office.)
Mr. Callaghan: In view of the growing unemployment in Scotland and the industrial distress that is being caused there, will the right hon. Gentleman consider providing a day in Government time to discuss Scottish affairs? Secondly, is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the proposal that has been brought forward in connection with the remaining stages of the Education (No. 2) Bill to remove the obligation to provide nursery education for the first time since it appeared in the Education Act 1944? The right hon. Gentleman is treating the House in an unworthy manner by bringing forward at this late stage—when the timetable motion has been agreed and the business has been allocated—an important issue of this sort.
My hon. Friends the Members for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock) and for Bolton, West (Mrs. Taylor) and I have been pressing for a statement for three months. It has come at the very last moment. Instead of trying to sneak it through in this way, will the right hon. Gentleman please consider giving extra time for consideration of this important matter and, if necessary, recall the Business Committee?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: New clauses are considered first by the Education Committee. The proposal is not really a great change in practice. When I was at the Department of Education and Science there was a strong body of opinion within the Department that there was not an obligation. This is a clarifying amendment, rather than a basic change of principle.
With regard to the point about Scotland, I am happy to tell the right hon. Gentleman that I hope to accede to his

741
request in the very near future. We have a debate on Welsh affairs, and we should have a debate on Scottish affairs.
Mr. David Price: Does my right hon. Friend agree that engineering is more important than broadcasting? When will he stage a debate on the Finniston report?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I do not wish to make a judgment of Solomon between those two matters. They are both of very great importance. I shall certainly bear my hon. Friend's point in mind. Perhaps it is a subject that can be fitted in to another general debate.
Mr. Bidwell: Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed early-day motion 361 on the virginity test case, which is of concern to hon. Members from all parties?
[That this House is concerned that an excessive delay has occurred in the consideration of a request for compensation on behalf of Mrs. Kaker, the woman who suffered the humiliation of the so-called 'virginity test' at Heathrow airport a year ago; and urges the Secretary of State for the Home Department to resolve the matter in order to demonstrate sympathy for this distressed woman and her husband.]
If the right hon. Gentleman cannot arrange an early debate, will he put pressure on his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to look seriously at this case and to reach a conclusion, and not cause lawyers to have to drag this woman into the courts?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I know that the hon. Gentleman has had consultations on the matter with my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office. There seem to have been various changes of mind on the question whether proceedings should be brought or not, and the position of Mrs. Kakar in relation to those exchanges is unclear. It is because of that that the matter has become unavoidably protracted. I shall certainly discuss it with my right hon. Friend.
Mr. Beith: However much the right hon. Gentleman may wish to allow his Tory friends in Oxfordshire to abolish nursery education, he must give the House an opportunity to debate such a major issue at some length. Does he realise that if he does not do that it will be debated at considerable length in another
742
place? Does he plan to introduce a timetable there also?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: The hon. Gentleman is exaggerating the point beyond all recognition. There is no question of abolishing nursery education. This is a clarifying amendment.
Mr. Higgins: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the arbitrary action of the printers in cutting off the printing of Hansard half-way through the afternoon has ceased to become an unfortunate lapse, and is now a very nasty habit—so much so that we did not get last Monday's questions and answers until Wednesday? The report of the debate was issued in two separate parts. Will my right hon. Friend take steps—since it has never happened previously, until recent weeks—to stop that happening?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I have every sympathy with my right hon. Friend and other hon. Members on that point. We are faced with a shortage of staff. [HON. MEMBERS: "Do something about it."] It is all very well to say "Do something about it." If I were to set the type myself it would result in chaos. The newly proposed Hansard Press, under the auspices of the Stationery Office, will shortly be in operation, and I hope that the situation will then improve. I understand that more people are being recruited.
Mr. James Callaghan: The answer given to the Liberal spokesman is totally unsatisfactory. In our view, and in the view of most people, the Education (No. 2) Bill removes an obligation that has existed since 1944, and that has been understood to exist since 1944, on local education authorities to provide nursery education. There is a difference of view about that, but no one can deny that it has stood for 36 years and that it is regarded as being fundamentally important. Why is the proposal being introduced at this late stage, when the timetable motion and the clauses to be considered have been fixed? I must press the right hon. Gentleman to give time for the House to consider this important principle. If he does not do so, I fear that there will be trouble. He cannot sneak it through in this way and expect co-operation on other matters.
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I believe that the right hon Gentleman is exaggerating the issue. Although the provision may have been in the Education Act, there is no example of any effort being made to enforce that principle against an education authority. As I understand it, it is a clarifying amendment.
Mr. Stokes: Will my right hon. Friend confirm that no proposals will be brought forward at present to alter the composition of the House of Lords?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I can give my hon. Friend an undertaking that that is not the first priority of the Government.
Mr. Kinnock: May I remind the right hon. Gentleman that he is Leader of the whole House? If the shift contained in the Secretary of State for Education's new clause is so marginal from the 1944 position, why was it necessary to take the advice of the Attorney-General a month ago? Secondly, does the right hon. Gentleman accept that the matter is being introduced at this late stage in the Bill because there is need to grant immunity to the county of Oxfordshire, which is bent on virtually abolishing education for the rising-fives in defiance of what has been understood to be the law throughout the entire country since 1944?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: It really has nothing to do with the situation in Oxfordshire. The fact that the Attorney-General was called in to advise supports the point that I am making. As the Leader of the Opposition suggested, there were two points of view, but there is no example of the principle having been enforced on a local education authority.
Mr. James Callaghan: I ask the right hon. Gentleman a simple question. Will he accept that there is great feeling about the matter? He may be right. We think that he is wrong. Will he give adequate time now for that principle to be discussed on the Floor of the House? When the timetable motion was arranged, there was clearly no intention of that taking place. The Secretary of State for Education has introduced a new and important issue. Will the right hon. Gentleman give extra time to discuss that? It is a simple request and he should concede it.
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I shall certainly consider it. I cannot give an undertaking
744
to the right hon. Gentleman in those terms. However, as he has raised the issue I shall discuss it with my right hon. Friend.
Mr. Butcher: Has my right hon. Friend re-read the terms of early-day motion 345 on the impact of micro-computers and silicon chips?
[That this House calls upon Her Majesty's Government to provide time for an early debate on the progress and widening application of micro-computer technology in view of its likely impact on industry and society and the investment being made from all sources in the production of silicon chips.]
Bearing in mind the hysterical observations outside the House that these devices might bring about mass unemployment or mass leisure, neither of which is true, will my right hon. Friend give the House an opportunity to debate their political, social and economic impact?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I am aware that the Department of Industry is proceeding with a comprehensive programme to encourage the application and development of microelectronics through the microprocessor application product and the microelectronics industry support programme. It is an important issue, but I am afraid that I cannot hold out promise of an early debate.
Miss Boothroyd: Does the Leader of the House recognise that an element in parliamentary democracy rests on the single-Member constituency? If so, will he give time to debate the conduct of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight) in not only challenging the decisions of Sandwell local authority, which is quite outside her area, but also in referring those decisions to what the hon. Lady calls "the highest possible level?" Will the right hon. Gentleman give time for a debate on the fundamentals of the democratic process, so that the hon. Lady may be informed of how to uphold and not abuse that process?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I would be the last person to interfere in a quarrel between ladies.
Mrs. Knight: Will my right hon. Friend accept that any intervention that I may have made in matters that cut across another hon. Member's constituency occurred because those matters have

745
a direct bearing on my constituency? Will he further accept that the matter to which the hon. Member for West Bromwich, West (Miss Boothroyd) refers concerns to some degree a community school in my constituency? I hope that my right hon. Friend will agree that I am well aware of the rules of the House, and that there is no need whatsoever for a debate.
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I thank my hon. Friend for throwing new light on the question and for having stated her case so cogently. I can add nothing whatsoever to it.
Mr. Sheerman: Will the Leader of the House find time for at least a short debate on the facilities available for members of the public when they come here on a mass lobby or on an individual basis? Will he accept that the two large lobbies in the past two weeks have demonstrated the inadequacy of the facilities available for people who come to the House to consult their Members of Parliament? Many hon. Members have had to resort to meeting constituents in the park. May we have a debate in the near future?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I do not believe that we can have a debate on the matter, although I appreciate the difficulties that some constituents may have. I ask the hon. Gentleman to also consider the great strain placed on the staff of this House by mass lobbies. May I also tell him that my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Stradling Thomas) and the right hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Harrison) have devoted a great deal of time to trying to make the problems more manageable? This week they have been working particularly hard.
Mr. Latham: In view of the disappointing outcome of this week's Common Market discussions on the yarn processing industry, will my right hon. Friend find time for a statement by the Secretary of State for Trade?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I shall pass my hon. Friend's request for a statement to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade.
Mr. Woolmer: Will the Leader of the House go further than that? Is he aware that there was a clear impression that the Secretary of State may be making a statement in the House this week, follow-
746
ing those negotiations? Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that the failure of the Secretary of State to reach agreement on action against cheap American imports is viewed with great dismay in textile areas, especially in West Yorkshire, where the carpet industry is under disastrous pressure? May I urge the Leader of the House to find time for the Secretary of State to make a statement to the House?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I agree that it is an extremely important commercial matter. It is of concern to all parts of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. As I have said, I shall pass the request to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and tell him of the anxiety in the House.
Dame Judith Hart: Has the right hon. Gentleman given further consideration to the problem of Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Overseas Development Agency questions, which was discussed with him by my right hon. Friend the Member for Stepney and Poplar (Mr. Shore) and myself?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: Yes, I have. I am pleased to tell the right hon. Lady that agreement has been reached between all the interested parties on a scheme that will increase the time spent on general Foreign Office questions by 25 per cent. and, at the same time, free hon. Members to ask questions on general Foreign Office matters and overseas development in close proximity.
Under that plan, general Foreign Office questions will go on on the usual day until 3.10 pm. European Community questions will proceed until 3.30 pm. Overseas development questions will be taken for the same 10 minutes as now, but I have transferred them to Monday, when Trade questions are first on the Order Paper. I stress that that in no way reflects on the integral position of ODA within the Foreign Office, which will continue. Church Commission questions will be taken on the appropriate Monday at 3.10 pm, before arts questions.
A revised question roster will be issued lo take effect from the beginning of March. I hope that the right hon. Lady will agree that I have tried in a difficult matter to reach a more satisfactory arrangement.
Dame Judith Hart: May I, on behalf of my right hon. Friend and myself, welcome the efforts that the right hon. Gentleman has made, without in the least sharing his definition of the differential role of FCO and ODA? We hope that those arrangements will prove more satisfactory.
Mr. Kenneth Lewis: Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is no doubt that the split printing of Hansard is causing a great deal of difficulty, as is the occasional shortage of other Government papers? Therefore, following true Tory principle, if the Government themselves, through Her Majesty's Stationery Office, cannot get the printing right, can my right hon. Friend put it out to public tender, so that we can have some competition?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I am reluctant to do that. However, if these troubles continue we shall have to explore a number of other possibilities. The difficulty is the shortage of staff in the typesetting area. I have inquired into these matters and have been informed that that is now being remedied. I am distressed about this, but it is a difficult situation, Tory or any other principles notwithstanding.
Mr. Maclennan: I welcome the Minister's decision on overseas aid, but does he accept that his decision to transfer those questions to the Monday when trade questions are considered is wholly unacceptable, since he has already cut down the amount of time available for questioning the Government on prices by incorporating the responsibility for prices and consumer protection within the Department of Trade? This is an abuse that will not protect the Government from continuing attack on the prices front.
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I was not considering prices here. I was trying to meet the representations that have been made to me by the right hon. Member for Lanark (Dame Judith Hart), the right hon. Member for Stepney and Poplar (Mr. Shore) and hon. Members on the Government Benches who are all very interested in foreign affairs.
Mr. Eldon Griffiths: As 150 men from South Wales are trying to stop people working at Sheerness, in Kent, 100 people from South Yorkshire and
748
Corby are trying to close the pressed steel factory in Birmingham, and police officers have been injured in both cases, will my right hon. Friend consider, with the Home Secretary, the need for a statement being made by the Minister in this House next week about the implications for public order?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is keeping in daily touch with the situation over picketing but I shall certainly convey to him what my hon. Friend said.
Mr. Stoddart: Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which shows that as consumers we pay £2,200 million a year to the European Economic Community? Has he seen the statements today that say that the price of butter is to increase by 13p and the New Zealand imports to this country are to be reduced to 90,000 tons a year if the EEC has its way? Is it not about time that the House reconsidered its position in relation to the EEC, and that we had a full-scale debate about it?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: In view of the expression of will by the nation in the referendum supporting our membership of the EEC, I do not think it right that we should revise the whole matter.
I have read the report of the Institute of Fiscal Studies. I understand that the figure of £2,200 million has been challenged and is not accepted. Of course, if we are buying food in a world with high market prices we would expect to pay a certain premium on that food for a guaranteed supply. A steady supply of food is more important than the actual price.
Mr. Stanbrook: What is the reason for the delay in laying the new immigration rules before the House?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: There is no delay. It is an important matter, and my right hon. Friend is going into it with his customary thoroughness.
Mr. Marks: Has the Leader of the House seen the various early-day motions from all parts of the House about the possible closure of sub-post offices as a result of possible changes in payment of benefits?
[That this House calls on the Government to consider the threat to the viability of small sub-post offices which would result from implementing the Rayner proposals on the payment of social security benefits and to recognise that any further decline in the number of village post offices would be a disaster for country dwellers in general and the elderly in particular.]
[That this House calls on the Government to reject the proposals for social security payments and pensions to be made at longer intervals than one week, believing that it would cause hardship to many who are already under stress and result in the closure of many sub-post offices which are a valuable asset to old people and young families, in particular, both in rural and heavily trafficked urban areas.]
[That this House takes careful note of the proposals made by Sir Derek Rayner on the payment of welfare benefits and rejects any changes which would undermine the network of sub-post offices which are essential to community life in town and country.]
[That this House calls upon Her Majesty's Government to support the concept of the rural sub-post office as the most logical and economic way to make benefit payments to those who have neither transport, bank account nor any understanding of credit transfer systems.]
[That this House, concerned about the threat to rural post offices from the recent Rayner proposals, is grateful to the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security for her undertaking to consider carefully the social and other consequences of such a change and very much hopes that after such consideration, she will regard any possible cost savings as being outweighed by their detrimental effects upon pensioners, upon recipients of other social benefits and upon rural life in general.]
Will the leader of the House make time for a debate on sub-post offices, if not next week, say, on 20 February?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I am aware of the concern about the future of sub-post offices in relation to the payment of social security benefits, and I shall raise the matter with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.
Mr. Forman: Will my right hon. Friend give fresh consideration during the coming weeks to the problems that have been caused for a long time now in trying to secure debates in the House on important Royal Commission and other reports? Very often there are delays and often these debates do not take place at all. Specifically, will my right hon. Friend direct his attention to the import Lindop report on data protection which this House has still not debated?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: Yes, I will. But I am afraid that there is a limited amount of time for debate. All these matters are important to individual Members but we cannot debate them all at once.
Mr. Geraint Howells: I am sure that the Leader of the House is well aware of the fact that many hon. Members are worried about the future of the common agricultural policy. Unless it is reformed in the next two years it will disintegrate within five years. In view of the seriousness of the tone of the Prime Minister's answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel) this afternoon, will the right hon. Gentleman give us time to make suggestions on and debate the CAP on the Floor of the House? I believe that it would be beneficial to our Minister in Brussels if he were able to express the opinion of hon. Members in future deliberations.
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I am afraid that I cannot promise an early debate, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is championing British interests in this regard with skill and determination.
Mr. Hardy: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of a serious development, which has gone largely unremarked this week, in that the Secretary of State for the Environment has announced and clearly confirmed that he proposes to monitor the speeches of local government representatives before he decides upon the disbursement of central support for local government? Does the right hon. Gentleman, with his record, not regard that as a serious matter, was he aware of it, and does he not agree that it is such an important development that it should be discussed by the House as a matter of urgency?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I shall certainly raise the matter with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I am sure that if he is going to monitor these speeches there must be an important reason for doing so.
Mr. Robert Hughes: Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that unemployment in Scotland is such that we cannot accept his answer that there will be a debate soon? Will he give us a guarantee that there will be a debate, if not next week, the week after? Will he ask his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to make a statement in the House next week on the serious allegations being made about widespread bugging of embassies, trade union offices and the delegation to the recent conference at Lancaster House, as he must be alarmed at what appears to be the growing lack of control of the security services, which brings us far nearer the police State than we care to imagine?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I am concerned—as I think all hon. Members are—about bugging. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has made it clear that he will make a statement in the House within a reasonable time. As to the debate on Scotland, I have gone as far as I can in indicating my determination to have an early debate on this matter. It would be foolish for me to commit myself to a precise date when I have just made a statement about next week's business.
Mr. Winnick: Is there not a need to debate in the near future the disturbing and repeated allegations about telephone tapping—many of which seen to be unauthorised—and similar operations by the security services? Is it not important for the House of Commons to have a debate to make sure that there is effective political control over the security services?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: Yes, I agree that the responsibility for the security services must ultimately rest with the political authority. But on the subject of telephone tapping, I remind the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has said that he will make a statement on this important matter reasonably soon.
Mr. Cryer: Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the Secretary of State
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for Trade receives the full, clear and strong message from the House that there was an understanding that, following the EEC discussions about American manmade fibre imports, he would make a statement in the House? Does he realise that every week mills are closing in the textile industry in the West Riding of Yorkshire and that a mill closure was announced in my constituency only this week? To give the industry confidence it is urgent and important that the Secretary of State makes a statement as soon as possible.
Lastly, can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that the Secretary of State for the Environment will not be using electronic surveillance equipment to monitor local councillors' speeches?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: With regard to the question of a statement, the hon. Gentleman's argument reinforces the plea that has been made already on that point.
With regard to surveillance of the speeches of local government dignitaries, I should have thought that it might be better to do it through electronic equipment rather than personally.
Several Hon. Members Several Hon. Members rose—
Mr. Speaker: Order. I shall call the the hon. Gentlemen who have been rising if they will co-operate with me and be brief.
Mr. Straw: As the Leader of the House recognises that the textile question is so important, does he not think it quite wrong that hon. Members have been fobbed off today with a written statement by the Secretary of State, rather than having the advantage of an oral statement? Will he undertake, because of the mill closures not only in West Yorkshire, which are very serious, but also in Lancashire, to ask the Secretary of State to make a statement on the question in the House tomorrow, given the breakdown in negotiations it appears to have occurred this week in Brussels?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I have seen the written answer that is being given today. It will be published this afternoon. But as I have said, I shall indicate the concern felt in the House about this matter.
Mr. Mark Hughes: I welcome the decision to hold a debate on fisheries. However, will the Leader of the House

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accept, first, that there is a very large number of documents involved in this debate and, secondly, given the present difficulties associated with the fishing industry, about 40 or 50 hon. Members will wish to be involved, and restricting the debate to the period between 4 o'clock and 7 o'clock next. Thursday will place an intolerable burden on Mr. Speaker? Will the right hon. Gentleman indicate whether he could extend the debate?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I was most anxious to have an early debate because of the matters that were raised in the House last week. With regard to the duration of the debate, I am aware of the number of hon. Members who wish to speak and the number of documents concerned. The debate can be resumed after 10 o'clock; it can be extended until 11.30.
Mr. Christopher Price: I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his agreement to have further discussions through the usual channels about further time for the Report stage of the Education (No. 2) Bill. On reflection, does he not think that to discuss before 10 o'clock on the first guillotine day 17 clauses, including a whole new assisted places scheme and a whole new school allocation scheme, and, on top of that, a completely new change, which allows local authorities to abolish nursery education, is an abuse of the procedures of this House, even under the guillotine procedure? When he has his discussions will he bear all those matters in mind and try to find some more time?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I shall certainly bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman said.
Mr. Race: When are we likely to get a debate on the Boyle report on research assistants' and secretaries' salaries, especially as the Leader of the House has had the report on his desk since December? When are we to expect a statement on this matter from the Government? Will the right hon. Gentleman explain the delay in making such a statement? Could it be that the Cabinet are divided on this crucial question?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: I have been proceeding very quickly on this matter. The hon. Gentleman is mistaken. I did not have the document on my desk before Christmas. The Prime Minister received it on 15 January. I received it from her
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on 16 January. Since then I have been proceeding very swiftly in these matters, and I hope that it will be possible to make a statement next week.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett: Will the Leader of the House go a little further than just reconsidering the amout of time for the Report stage of the Education (No. 2) Bill? Will he also reconsider taking it next week? Does he not realise that with five pages of new amendments on the Amendment Paper today, particularly the amendments on nursery education, it is grossly unfair to all the interested groups outside the House, who have virtually no time to read them, to consider their implication and to make representations to hon. Members? If the Government proceed in this way, it means that interested groups will have to make their representations to their Lordships, and that will prolong debate in the other place. Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the decision to start next Tuesday, as well as giving us more time?
Mr. St. John-Stevas: It is a matter for the Business Committee rather than myself. I regret any curtailment of discussion, but I do not think that I could have a guillotine debate all over again.

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS
Mr. Speaker: Yesterday, the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) raised with me a point of order on the application of the rules for questions. He submitted that the refusal by the Home Secretary at Question Time on 31 January to make any further comments on the subject of telephone tapping should not be allowed to prevent further questions being asked, since on the following day the Prime Minister had sent a letter to another hon. Member, which had created a new situation.
I have looked very carefully into this matter, since it is most important that the rights of hon. Members to question Ministers in this Chamber should be upheld to the utmost—within the rules, of course, that the House itself has imposed. However, I am satisfied that the letter to which the hon. Member referred did not add any new material information to that already given by the Home Secretary to the House, and that the further questions

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that the hon. Member sought to table were, therefore, properly refused in accordance with the rules confirmed by the House in December 1972.
Mr. Cryer: I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the consideration that you have given to the statement and for endorsing the important principle that the rights of Back Benchers to question Ministers within the rules of the House should be upheld to the utmost. However, may I suggest, Mr. Speaker, that the rules of the House are very narrow on this point and merit re-examination? The best way for this to be undertaken would be for you, Mr. Speaker, to examine, as you say, the rights of Back Benchers to question Ministers, and make a report to the House, or to establish a Speaker's Conference to make a report as quickly as possible, so that we may look at the matter afresh, particularly in view of the fact that we are getting information from a weekly magazine, the New Statesman, about new techniques.
The question of debates is entirely in the Government's hands, and Back Benchers look to you, Mr. Speaker, for the protection of their rights and, as you say, it is important that they should be upheld.
Mr. Speaker: I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman. I think that the House is aware that I take seriously the question of protecting the rights of hon. Members, but the other proposals that the hon. Gentleman has made will have to be followed up by someone other than myself. The initiative lies elsewhere.

SIXTH STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
Mr. McQuarrie: I wish to raise a point of order, Mr. Speaker, of which I have given you notice.
In page 2394 of the Order Paper for today's business, under the title "Memorandum", it is stated in paragraph 2 that
"The Sixth Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c., will meet on Wednesday 20th November at half-past Ten o'clock to consider the draft Sea Fish Industry Act 1970 (Increase in Rate of Levy) Order 1980."
It is true that 20 November is a Thursday, and I would be very happy to
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welcome this increased levy order being postponed until November, especially in view of the very severe crisis in the fishing industry. But there are other complications which require your ruling, Mr. Speaker.
In my mail this morning I received an intimation from the Committee of Selection to the effect that the Committee had nominated me as a member of the Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments in respect of the draft Sea Fish Industry Act 1970 (Increase in Rate of Levy) Order 1980, and that the Committee would meet on Wednesday 20 February 1980 at half-past Ten o'clock. But added to this confusion is the fact that on page 2396, under "Orders of the Day and Notice of Motions" for today's business, under item 12 the House is being asked to approve
"the draft Sea Fish Industry Act 1970 (Increase in Rate of Levy) Order 1980, which was laid before this House on 28th January."
Is there any point in the Committee of Selection appointing a Committee—regardless of the date on which it may meet, be it February or November—to discuss a matter which the House is being asked to approve? I should like to have your ruling on these very confusing matters, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for giving me notice this morning. I understood that he would also be asking me what he should do—and I came prepared to tell him.
The date "20 November" should be 20 February. There has been a human error, and it will be put right. I remind the House that those who serve us as printers are under great pressure at the moment. They produce a great deal of very accurate work. It is only the occasional slip that comes to our attention. However, I assure the hon. Gentleman that the necessary corrections will be made.

BALLOT FOR NOTICES OF MOTIONS FOR MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY
Members successful in the ballot were:
Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smith.
Mr. Graham Bright.
Mr. K. Harvey Proctor.
Mr. Speaker: I should like the House to know that the ballot was quite impartial.

BILL PRESENTED OPTICAL CHARGES (EXEMPTION) (SCOTLAND)
Mr. Alfred Morris presented a Bill supported by Mr. George Robertson, Mr. Jack Ashley, Mr. John Hannam, Mr. Harry Ewing, Mr. James Dempsey, Mr. Richard Body, Mr. James Craigen, Mr. Lewis Carter-Jones, Mr. Donald Stewart, Mr. A. J. Beith and Mr. Robert Litherland, to amend section 70 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 so as to empower the Secretary of State to provide for the exemption of registered partially sighted persons from charges for optical devices provided under the National Health Service: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time upon Friday 22 February and to be printed [Bill 143].
ORDERS OF THE DAY
  INDUSTRY BILL
  Not amended (in the Standing Committee), further considered.
  INDUSTRY BILL
    Clause 13

      REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
      4.13 pm
      Dr. John Cunningham: I beg to move amendment No. 21, in page 7, leave out from beginning of line 14 to end of line 20 on page 8.
      Mr. Speaker: With this, we can discuss the following amendments:
      No. 22, in page 7, leave out line 41, and insert—
      '(i) Work on the asset is commenced before the passing of this Act and completed before 1st August 1981.'
      No. 24, in page 8, line 17, at end insert—
      '(4)—(1) In section 1(1) of the Industry Act 1972, after the words "The Secretary of State may" there shall be inserted the words "subject to the provisions of subsection (5)(a) below."
      (2) At the end of subsection (5) of section 1 of the Industry Act 1972 there shall be inserted the following words:
      "(5)(a) Grant shall only be payable in all cases where the ratio of grant to permanent additional employment estimated to be created by the qualifying capital investment exceeds £10,000 per job where prior approval of Parliament has been expressed by affirmative resolution of both Houses of Parliament".'.
      Dr. Cunningham: The purpose of the amendment is to debate issues surrounding regional policy. Regional policy is important to the Opposition. That is demonstrated by the number of occasions on which we have chosen to debate it on Supply days, through Private Members' motions or in similar circumstances. The importance of regional policy is also indicated by the number of occasions upon which issues affecting steel, shipbuilding, coal, engineering and textile industries have been raised at Question Time. Indeed, such questions were raised today during business questions to the Leader of the House.
      Scotland, Wales, the North and the North-West are heavily represented by

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      Opposition Members. That is no political or historical accident. Policy towards those regions since the Second World War, and in some respects since the First World War, has varied according to the Administration in power. However, there has been a common thread running through regional policy throughout that period. We recognise that regional policy cannot solve our problems if the economy is in difficulty. I do not think that we shall argue about that today. Persistent changes in regional policy have rendered it less effective than it might have been.
      Industrial managers prefer a stable environment when making decisions about industrial policy and investment. I think that all hon. Members will agree with that. Stability should be one of the foundation stones of our approach to regional and industrial policy. We must bring stability and consistency to regional policy. I do not mean that there should not be any changes. Obviously, if policies are clearly ineffective, they must be changed, reviewed and in some cases abandoned. During the past 30 years, too many changes have gone to the heart of regional policy. They have affected basic areas such as that of investment grants. Investment grants were changed to tax incentives. We have now returned to investment grants. Investment grants are a good example of such changes. Decisions on planning and the control of industrial development certificates provide yet another good example.
      It may be accepted that there is some effective direction of industrial development. However, if industrialists believe in the likelihood of change and further change, it will cause only hesitation and anxiety about the location of industry. Hesitation will arise because some people may not wish to be directed. I understand that. Anxiety may arise because those who accept the policy might become anxious if competitors were not forced to accept the same considerations. Changes can have only a deleterious effect on regional policy as a whole.
      Successive Conservative Governments, such as the Macmillan Government, the Heath Administration and that of the right hon. Member for Finchley (Mrs. Thatcher), have also made changes. The record shows that change inevitably causes a hiatus in terms of investment in
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      the regions, of industrial development and of new industrial locations. At best there is a pause, at worst a falling-off in industrial development and employment opportunities. I hope that hon. Members will accept that point, as there are many statistics which confirm it. I shall not bore the House by giving details of those statistics.
      Mr. John Patten (Oxford): Does the hon. Gentleman agree that some of those changes are induced not only by changes in Government policy but by changes in economic circumstances? Such changes force alterations in regional policy.
      Dr. Cunningham: I agree. We cannot stick our heads in the sand. Economic circumstances cause changes whether or not there has been a change in regional policy. However, if the hon. Member is saying that Governments must of necessity change regional policy as a result of adverse economic circumstances, I would disagree. I contend that the worst time to jeopardise investment in the regions or to weaken incentives is during a recession. That is the very time when the regions need more protection or assistance than other sectors of the economy.
      It is that aspect of the Bill more than any other that causes deep resentment and anger among those in the regions and their representatives. I feel very angry about what is happening in the Northern region, part of which I represent. As a result of changes and their consequential effect on other policies—including educational and training opportunities—young people in particular will be denied the opportunity to work, develop their character, gain employment and contribute to the economy for many years ahead.
      Mr. Nick Budgen: Will the hon. Gentleman at some stage deal with the message that he would like to give to Wolverhampton and other areas of the Black Country which were once very prosperous and which have been severely impoverished, at least to some extent as the result of the success of the regional policies which he is advocating?
      Dr. Cunningham: Yes, it is my intention to deal with that point, as the hon. Gentleman will discover. I recognise at least some truth in what he says, but I

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      do not concede for a moment that the structural problems of industry in the Midlands can be laid solely at the door of regional policy. As long as the hon. Gentleman accepts that, there is some common ground between us. What he says has wide implications for the development of the British economy as a whole. Whatever else we want to do in advocating regional policy, we do not want to disadvantage communities and workers in those parts of the United Kingdom which are not beneficiaries.
      Mr. Budgen: That is the object of the exercise.
      Dr. Cunningham: No, it is not the object of the exercise. I shall come back to the hon. Gentleman's point.
      Mr. Budgen: To give a comparative advantage to one area is to give a comparative disadvantage to another. It is a matter of logic.
      Dr. Cunningham: I accept that, but if the hon. Gentleman says that it is our intention to do that in such a way as not simply to want to solve problems in areas where they are long-standing and deep-seated but also to want to damage and disadvantage other areas, that I do not accept.
      Mr. Budgen Mr. Budgen rose—
      Dr. Cunningham: I shall come back to the hon. Gentleman's point. He is intervening at the beginning of my speech. I hope that he will let me proceed. Whether or not I half agree with the hon. Gentleman, he has made two interventions on which I have given way and several more from a sedentary position, repeating his performance in yesterday's debate, after which he disappeared for long periods. If he wants to be treated seriously and to participate in the debate, I suggest he stays and lets me put my argument, and I will come to the point he raised.
      The Secretary of State for Industry (Sir Keith Joseph): Is the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) seriously maintaining that he will treat properly only the interventions of hon. Members who stay throughout the debate? His hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Holland) yesterday made a great denunciation of Government policy but
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      when I turned to face him courteously in my speech to answer his points he was no longer in the Chamber.
      Dr. Cunningham: I think the right hon. Gentleman and I are in some agreement on this. My hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Holland) will reply for himself.
      Mr. Budgen: He will not be here.
      Dr. Cunningham: The deleterious effect of the actions of the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr.Budgen) are apparent, because we are wasting valuable time talking about behaviour in the Chamber.
      Mr. Budgen: The hon. Gentleman started it.
      Dr. Cunningham: In response to the Secretary of State, may I say that hon. Members have to leave the Chamber from time to time, but his hon. Friend was not in that category; he was away for very long periods.
      Sir Keith Joseph: Come to the argument.
      Dr. Cunningham: I shall come to the argument if I am given the opportunity.
      In spite of regional policy over several decades, the deep-seated problems remain. It is clear that regional policy has had some successes and some failures, just as market forces have had some successes and some failures. The difference between us is of emphasis and consistency of purpose rather than of ideology, except perhaps for the Secretary of State, who, I assume, would argue that he does not believe at heart in any regional policy but goes along with it. The problems of unemployment remain widespread in Wales, Scotland and Northern England. It is no accident that they are the areas which were developed in the first Industrial Revolution, areas in which there is heavy engineering, shipbuilding, coal, steel and other industries. Textiles is a classic example.
      This unemployment represents a loss to the whole of the British economy, not just to the economy and society in the regions. It is a drain on financial resources. It is a denial of opportunity, particularly to young people. It is in the interest of all regions that these problems should be vigorously tackled and,

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      if possible, overcome. That is what is important in respect of the interventions of the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West. It is to the benefit of his constituents and of the industries in the area that he represents that these deep-seated problems should be resolved. It is not to their long-term disadvantage. I hoped at least that we would be at one on that point.
      There is too narrow a base of industry in the regions. There is too narrow a spectrum of employment opportunities for young people leaving school and university in the regions. Naturally, as there always has been, there is a drain of talented young people away from these areas. I am not suggesting that they should all stay there—it would not be in their interests so to do; but, in spite of high and deep-seated unemployment, we find a lack of skills in the regions. The Government are intent upon closing skillcentres, to the supposed advantage of the taxpayer, to reduce public expenditure, leaving the problem of the lack of skills in the regions unresolved and inadequately tackled. I do not regard that as in the national interest or to the benefit of the taxpayer. It is another denial of opportunity for people themselves to take initiatives to resolve the problems.
      Mr. John Bruce-Gardyne: Will the hon. Gentleman address himself to the point that those who leave skillcentres more often than not are unable to find employment for which they are qualified because of the attitude of a trade union which prevents their taking up employment?
      Dr. Cunningham: I shall address myself briefly to the point. I do not accept that that occurs more often than not, and the Government's statistics would not bear out that assertion. If the hon. Gentleman is saying that in some areas trade unions have frustrated attempts to retrain people, I agree with him. I regret it, but there are good reasons for it, perhaps in too many cases selfish reasons, and it is a problem which we genuinely need to overcome. I concede that point. Trade unions have a responsibility to discharge in that respect. But I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's assertion that more people are out of jobs after training than before. Perhaps
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      someone else will tell us the accurate figures.
      I would expect right hon. and hon. Members on the Conservative Benches to agree with us about incentives. They talk about giving incentives to managers and giving incentives by reducing taxation. Apparently, when it comes to incentives to industrial investment they are not quite so fulsome in their praise.
      One of the main purposes of regional policy has been to provide incentive to invest in particular areas of the United Kingdom economy. There is evidence that over the years that approach has had successes. My right hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams), who discharged his responsibility so effectively throughout the period of the previous Labour Government, knows better than most of us how industrialists welcomed those incentives, how much the incentives influenced their decisions and how the industrialists applauded that approach. Whether by way of regional policy, selective financial assistance or accelerated project investment, they had a measurable impact on the rate of industrial development in the regions. Those matters are jeopardised as a result of Government policies. The same is true about the weakening of IDC control.
      4.30 pm
      Many industrialists do not like relocation. There are problems about that. We find offensive statements such as that made recently by the directors of Inmos, who said that they could not persuade people of the right calibre to live and work in the regions. There must be many industrialists with large and small concerns throughout the economy who would laugh at that kind of remark.
      I take one example in my constituency. The Marchon division of Albright and Wilson has developed a successful worldwide industry based in Whitehaven with excellent management and trade union relationships. It is based on the periphery of the North-West of England. That has not prevented the division from obtaining people of the calibre needed to manage the enterprise, which is the biggest profit centre in the group, based in one of the regions of the United Kingdom.
      Mr. Gregor MacKenzie: My hon. Friend made a constituency point about the excellent work being done

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      by Marchon in Northumberland. Perhaps he would extend his argument marginally as we are discussing regional policy. We are always concerned about Government dispersal policy. Projects such as Marchon in my hon. Friend's constituency, as well as in my own, have profited from Government assistance in the matter of dispersal as an important part of solving the problem.
      Dr. Cunningham: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend. The Government's about-turn on dispersal policy is yet another example of how commitments to people living in the regions have been reneged upon. That is a strong word, but it applies at least to our experience in Cumbria.
      In the last general election campaign—I dare say that it was the same elsewhere—candidates of all parties campaigned for dispersal. The Home Secretary and the Patronage Secretary, who both represent constituencies in Cumbria, campaigned on this basis. The Government had not been in office for five minutes before the project was abandoned. That breeds cynicism and defeatism among young people, especially those in the regions, which can have only a major long-term disadvantage for the Government and politics as a whole.
      Other areas of the United Kingdom economy and other communities have suffered similar disappointment literally within weeks of this Administration taking office—again, to the disadvantage of between 30 per cent. and 40 per cent. of the population of the country. That is the size of the problem expressed as a percentage of our population.
      The Government attitude to public enterprise is yet another threat to employment in the region. Public enterprise, traditionally and historically, has played a major part in helping to resolve those problems, as has public expenditure through local authorities and organisations such as the English Industrial Estates Corporation. Why has that been so? The market forces, the traditional Conservative Party approach to the economy, has failed. It has not worked in the regions.
      There may be many reasons for that failure. Some of them may be laid at the door of Labour Governments. We even go as far as to say that. However,
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      in the present circumstances, there is not a shred of evidence to support the contention that now, in the depths of a recession and with the world trading situation as it is, the market forces will solve the problems of Scotland, Wales and the Northern region of England. There is not one iota of evidence to support that contention. Against that background, we deplore moves to reduce the effect of regional policy.
      "Confidence" is a word that figures in our debates, whether on monetary or industrial policy or whatever. Many industrialists—many examples are on the record; they were discussed in Committee—have lost confidence in the Government's approach to regional policy. They will not make decisions for the moment until the situation is clarified. They fear further changes. They will not take risks, in many cases, with investments. There is also the fact that the Government decision on the dates on which changes will be made, which is the subject of another Opposition amendment, has had a serious effect on the cash flow of many companies now involved in expansion.
      When this matter was discussed in Committee, the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland advised us to write to him quoting individual cases. We all did that. Several letters were already in the pipeline. As he knows only too well, it did not make a shred of difference. Many companies have been placed in serious difficulties because of this kind of change. Ministers should be the last people to defend actions or decisions that interrupted the cash flow of industrial investment, given all the other difficulties surrounding industry, about which the Minister is so fond of telling us in his lectures. I have not yet received his 7,000-word essay on the subject. I thank my lucky stars for that.
      The questions about public enterprise, local government expenditure and confidence in Government policies towards the problems of the regions are crucial to the areas in which these problems exist. As I have said many times, those areas are represented by the Opposition. People living in those areas see a lack of commitment from the Government to them and their communities. They see that as every day passes and as every

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      further announcement of Government policy is made.
      I hope that when Ministers reply—here I come back, at some risk, to my reading list to the right hon. Gentleman—they will not tell us simply that there is a need for change and that the unions are preventing the changes. History shows us that activities in these regions have changed. Coal mining has practically disappeared. I live in a town that was totally dependent upon coal mining. I cannot see even the remains of a coal mine today. No one there is employed in coal mining any longer. There has been a change in the area I represent from a rural community to one that now supports the most advanced and complex nuclear site in Europe. There cannot be much bigger change than that. There have been changes on the Clyde, the Tyne, the Wear and the Tees and in South Wales. There have been changes in discipline and in whole communities. People are not opposed to change if change presents them with an opportunity. However, they are opposed to change that is a euphemism for unemployment—and rightly so. Who would think otherwise? Government supporters would take the same view, as do the professional organisations representing the people.
      The unions should not be castigated for opposing change when it means no alternative to the dole. Unions have been among the leaders of those seeking change and investments in organisations, such as Inmos, through the NEB, which were openly opposed by some Government supporters. That is a choice and a decision that Conservative Members make. But it is they who, in taking up that stance, oppose change—change which is being supported by industrial trade unions.
      I turn to the suggestion that in fighting for policies to bring advantages to the regions we inevitably disadvantage other regions. I suppose that when misery is so widespread it is difficult to sub-divide it. In that sense, I concede the point. Nevertheless, over the years we have seen overheating in the economies of some United Kingdom regions. Nowhere is that more obvious than in London and the South-East, where pressure builds up and over employment effectively exists in some areas. In itself, that is inflationary.
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      It produces pressures for more public expenditure.
      Mr. John Patten: How?
      Dr. Cunningham: Would the hon. Gentleman like to intervene?
      Mr. Patten: I should like to ask the hon. Gentleman how that causes increases in public expenditure.
      Dr. Cunningham: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman knows the answer to that. Overcrowding in areas demands more schools, more hospital facilities, more subsidies for commuter services, more road building. Need I go on?
      Mr. Stuart Holland: I am sure that the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Patten) should also be aware that there is wide empirical evidence that the cost of social overhead capital in these areas increases with the density of population, thus causing congestion. The concept is known as "congestion cost", and there is wide evidence of it in other countries as well as in the United Kingdom.
      Dr. Cunningham: My hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall has added to the force of my reply to the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Patten).
      There is growing evidence that those who live in London and the South-East are now responding. There is growing protest about congestion and commercial and industrial development. For example, there are the problems of the London airports and road developments in those areas. Such matters have become the subject of more and more objection by communities. I need hardly remind the House that such communities are not noted for returning Labour Members. Therefore, in no sense is it a political reaction, but it is a genuine and understandable reaction from people who feel threatened by the imbalance in the national economy. Inevitably, such areas continue to attract more and more people from the regions where the disadvantages are so obvious.
      Whatever else we accept from this Administration, their frequent references to "one nation" must be the most bogus claim of all. It is absolutely incredible that they should continue to say that they believe in the creation of one nation when they pursue policies of division, policies

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      which are manifestly unfair between different sectors of the community. It is a bogus claim and one which is increasingly exposed to the electorate.
      4.45 pm
      We believe, as I have tried to explain at some length, not only that regional policy is of benefit to the areas that we represent but that it is mutually beneficial. It is beneficial to the United Kingdom economy as a whole. We also believe that plans should be made for areas such as London and the South-East, although they may not be assisted areas.
      Further dismantling of regional policy is now taking place. I have mentioned changes in grants, area status, IDC control, training facilities, special temporary employment programme and public expenditure.
      Mr. Peter Hardy: I wonder whether my hon. Friend is aware of a question which affects much of my constituency. My constituency contains colliery spoil heaps, some of them current and some of them old ones. They cannot be cleared unless there is public support. That support depends upon the area retaining assisted area status. My hon. Friend may be aware that I made representations to the Minister about the matter a few months ago. The Minister promised that it would be dealt with. We are still waiting in South Yorkshire and our patience is not inexhaustible. I hope that my hon. Friend will comment on that matter.
      Dr. Cunningham: My hon. Friend has anticipated my next point. However, I welcome his intervention. He draws attention to the fact that regions have been disadvantaged because of the market forces economy. Dereliction, in the form of spoil heaps, outworn industrial areas and the rest, has been left by and large, until comparatively recently, to the communities themselves to deal with and to bear the cost. Now, of course, central Government provide substantial funds for such work, but, among other things, the support depends on the status of the area involved, as my hon. Friend has made clear.
      The point was pursued at some length by my hon. Friend the Member for Newton (Mr. Evans) and others in Committee. We sought to table an amendment but, unfortunatey, because of the
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      money resolution, the amendment was ruled out of order.
      Mr. John Evans: Is my hon. Friend—indeed, is the House—aware that the Government have indicated that they hope to do something about the matter in the new local government Act? The real problem is that under the Local Employment Act 1972, when certain areas were designated as derelict land clearance areas, assisted areas were automatically classified as derelict land clearance areas. Because that status has been removed, the by-product has been that the areas have lost the derelict land clearance status. The Government should recognise that many areas have embarked upon long-term programmes to clear derelict land. Surely, the Government should take that on board and put the matter right in the other place to bring relief to those areas.
      Dr. Cunningham: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. He has spelt out the problem clearly. I am inclined to be generous to the Government and say that the matter is an aspect of the changes that they have overlooked or did not anticipate. However, I am bound to say that they have had ample opportunity to correct the matter. We drew it to their attention in Committee, but they refused to amend the Bill then. They have not tabled an amendment on Report, and they have one further opportunity to remedy the difficulty when the Bill is discussed in the other place. I hope that they will take that opportunity.
      It is clear from correspondence and meetings that my hon. Friends and others have had—not only with Labour local authorities but with Conservative authorities in the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Yorkshire and other areas—that there is a great deal of ill will about the matter. It is a petty change and it is disadvantageous in the sense that it makes doubly difficult, if not impossible, the job of trying to improve the environment in the regions. The savings will be paltry—if there are savings at all. Much of the land has been reclaimed and used for industrial development and, in some cases, for agriculture. It must be beneficial to us to bring land back to use rather than to leave it sterile and derelict as much of it has lain for so many years. Again, I ask the Government to take the point on board.

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      My right hon. Friend the Member for Rutherglen (Mr. MacKenzie) referred in yesterday's debate to the fact that there is little foot-loose industry in the economy at the present. We have a high rate of inflation that is likely to increase. We have a high rate of VAT and a high minimum lending rate. They seriously disadvantage the development of new small businesses. There is not much activity on the small business front at the moment. Even existing successful industrial undertakings are threatened by the high sterling policy of the Government. Their exports are being damaged. Increasingly they are drawing in their horns, whether they are affected by the changes in regional policy or not.
      In other words, the prospects for industrial expansion in the economy and in the regions as a whole are not good. The Government's own forecasts show that they understand and believe that, and against this background they take decisions to change the effectiveness, the advantages and the incentives of regional policy. We regard that as a very serious matter, and it is against that background that we seek to move the amendment, which would, in effect, delete the clause.
      Before hon. Gentlemen leap to rebut my case, let me make one or two final points. I want to refer briefly to amendment No. 22, which would have the effect of changing the dates for the effectiveness of the Government's decision. It would have some effect in assuaging cash flow difficulties. It would give some extension to the notice that companies would have about the changes in regional policy.
      I believe that the industrial situation, the attitude of the Government to regional policy, their Rugby Union "hand-off" to the trade unions, their cuts in public expenditure and the effect of their financial policies on VAT, MLR, inflation and the rest and on investment planning add up to disaster for further industrial development in the regions of the United Kingdom. The people who live in the communities in these areas cannot afford these changes any more than they could afford the real price of the public expenditure cuts and taxation cuts which have not benefited them but have benefited other people and other communities in the United Kingdom.
      Mr. Peter Hordern: As I understand it, the purpose of the amendment is to leave out an important part of the Bill providing regional incentives. Of course, I appreciate that that is not the real purpose behind the hon. Gentleman's amendment, and he has spoken very clearly in criticism of my right hon. Friend's policy towards regional development.
      It seems to me that this is not a debate in which we should spend much time quibbling about whether one form of regional incentive is superior to another form. I know that it is very easy to criticise this Government and my right hon. and hon. Friends for narrowing the base upon which regional incentives can be given. I know that that was the purpose of the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. Evans), who has just spoken, but I wish to direct my few remarks to regional policies as a whole and to what I call the long term degeneration of British industry. That has gone on for many years, and I think that what is interesting is the trend away from manufacturing industry towards the service industries, especially towards the Civil Service and local authorities.
      Of course, the trend from manufacturing industry to the service industries has been continuing for some time and is by no means unique to our own country. It is a trend that is common throughout the industrialised countries of the world, and we should not be surprised at that. If anything, I suppose that the evidence is that we have over manning in our industries rather than undermanning. Nevertheless, the trend is very striking.
      There was an interesting article in a recent edition of Economic Trends which showed that between 1961 and 1978 the number of people employed in manufacturing industry was reduced from 8·2 million to 6·9 million. During those same years, the number of people who went into the service industries and into the public sector as a whole was increased by 1·5 million. There was a 60 per cent. increase in local government manpower and a 30 per cent. increase in central Government manpower. However one might describe this trend, it could hardly be described as a trend towards wealth creation. That is the problem from which the country has been suffering. I would

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      not go so far as to say that it is the increasing bureaucratisation of our country, but what is quite plain is that we have been far more intent on wealth sharing rather than wealth creation.
      I mention de-industrialisation of the country, which is very much an "in" word at the present. What is worse is that de-industrialisation concentrates on certain parts of the country; it is very patchy. The constituency which I have the honour to represent is in the South-East. We have had almost no unemployment at any time in the 15 years during which I have had the honour to represent my constituency. Furthermore, we have a little further local difficulty in the sense of a large international airport being placed on the borders of my constituency when we are seriously short of skilled labour.
      It seems to me that if one looks round the country as a whole one sees patches of industry which are extremely successful. In the South-East there are successful electronics firms and successful engineering firms, with a high proportion of export and a high degree of technology. I do not recall, in all the 15 years during which I have represented my constituency, a single strike of any kind. The reason for that is that there has been considerable technological and productive advance in all the firms in my constituency and a good deal of competition. If one looks at the rest of the country, whether the North-East, the North-West or parts of Scotland, one sees a greater prevalence of strikes and also the deterioration of the older industries. I am not making too much of the prevalence of strikes; I am merely saying that it is not surprising that they take place, because of the serious position of those heavy industries. It does not surprise me for a moment that demarcation disputes break out in older industries when they cannot see many orders on the order book.
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      When one sees the position of the shipbuilding industry and the competitive situation in shipbuilding throughout the world, I think it is true to say that successive Governments have found it difficult to inject any sense of confidence in the future in that industry and also in some of the heavy engineering industries.
      In my early business days, it was my job to go visiting factories throughout
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      the country to persuade investment institutions to invest in those firms. In those early days one scarcely saw any foreign-made machine tools in British factories. Now, if one looks at them, one sees that the old machine tools are invariably British and the new ones more often than not come from the Continent, from the United States, from Switzerland or from other countries. I regard that as a trend of the times. It seems to me that it would not resolve the difficulty if, by one means or another, we could redistribute resources from successful companies to those which have very grave difficulties.
      After all, to recall how these regions were prosperous originally, it was because they were on the tail of the Industrial Revolution and they were close to the seaport of Liverpool—from which the trade was to go to the United States, the Caribbean and Africa—as well as the other heavy industrial areas. All that has changed, however, and the difficulties in which these industries now find themselves are a result of the fact that they lie in parts of the country that have no direct export base; they suffer from difficulties of transport, and they are not so conveniently placed for export to the European Community as, for example, is the South-East.
      In that respect, I am in no position to judge whether one form of regional grant or aid is suitable. All I say is that the sums of money that we spend on regional aid are considerable and must be comparable to the amount of aid that is spent in any other ceuntry. I suggest that we consider a new approach. The problem is that our regional aids and grants are far too discretionary. This Bill and others are laden with grants, all of which are discretionary. I do not blame the Department of Industry. It does a good job, given its terms of reference. However, considerable time is spent negotiating with the Department when applying for grants, some of which are extraordinarily wasteful.
      Mr. John Evans: This is an important subject. There will be a fair degree of support for the case argued by the hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr Hordern). Is the hon. Gentleman aware

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      that, in spite of the changes in the structure of regional policy, the Government have not touched the North Sea oil companies, which are still in receipt of Department of Industry grants?
      Mr. Hordern: I am a director of an oil company and my company has been in receipt of such grants. My duty as a director was to point out the advantages of the scheme. Moreover, many projects would have proceeded with or without the grants.
      I wish to make a constructive proposal. Regional grants are common to countries throughout the Community. The United States and the Republic of Ireland have different systems to encourage industry to move into certain areas. I refer in particular to the Republic of Ireland. I do not wish to be deprecatory, but a few years ago the Republic of Ireland had a narrow industrial base. Nobody thought it a natural place to start up an industry. The Republic recently introduced a different regional grant system. A simple system which everybody can understand is operated. Companies setting up in certain areas get a 10-year corporation tax-free holiday. In the following 10 years the tax on the profits of such companies is levied at 10 per cent. That system is readily understood and has been remarkably successful.
      Many companies have recently moved to Southern Ireland. I shall not list the American, German, Dutch and Japanese firms that have moved to the Republic. A large number of British firms have moved there, even though they face the same market as firms established in Britain—namely, the European Community. Those companies include Beecham, Cadbury's, Courtaulds, General Electric, Glaxo, Parsons, Plessey, Unigate and Wedgwood. Those firms did not move by accident. They know that they can earn profits which will not be taxed for 10 years.
      Recently, some of my hon. Friends and some Labour Members visited Japan. The Japanese trade officials said that they were interested in learning about the regional grants available in Britain. They said "You must forgive us for saying that they seem to be extremely complicated. They appear to be changed from time to time, so it is difficult for us to understand the precise position." I
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      could not help but feel sympathy. If one lives a distance away and wants to enter the European market, one must know the rules. A tax-free holiday for 10 years is understandable and attractive.
      Mr. Stuart Holland: Is the hon. Member aware that because the Irish Government no longer tax big business and hardly tax farmers, they have had massively to increase pay-as-you-earn? There is now a major tax revolt, a fiscal crisis, because the Government lack resources and have a deficit equivalent to 10 per cent. of GDP. That cannot be called a success story.
      Mr. Hordern: If the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Holland) examines the most recent figures, he will see that the Irish economy is picking up again. I am talking about the long-term trend of the last 10 years. Few of those companies would have moved to Ireland to provide employment without incentives.
      Mr. Hardy: I agree that Southern Ireland has made a great deal of progress, but if the United Kingdom, or any country of similar or larger size, sought to pursue such policies there would be a great deal of international concern. I doubt whether we should have been able to get away with such a degree of inducement.
      Mr. Hordern: That would be so if a tax-free holiday applied throughout the country. I am not proposing that. The common belief is that a large amount of revenue is derived from corporation tax because it is levied at 52 per cent. However, there is scarcely a manufacturing company which is well advised that pays any corporation tax at all. The companies that are taxed are involved in the service industries, which are taking workers away from the manufacturing industries.
      In order to create a revival of industry, we must attract more successful firms from overseas. Some of my hon. Friends and many Labour Members are attracted by the idea of import controls. That has backing from the academics of the Cambridge school. However, import controls would deal with nothing more than the symptoms of the problem. They would not deal with the root of the matter. We must so revitalise our industries, especially in the depressed areas, that they can stand

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      on their own feet. We need new methods and the latest techniques. We shall not get those by shuffling round incentives and money from one part of the country to another.
      In all humility, I say to the Secretary of State that I can see no reason why we should not have a corporation tax-free basis in the regions. It would not cost much, because manufacturing companies do not pay much corporation tax anyway. That is not clearly understood by overseas firms, certainly not by Dutch and Japanese firms. We should try to attract Japanese and American firms to provide the latest techniques. We cannot afford to wait. We cannot afford not to have the improved technology which we need to compete in world markets.
      Mr. Cyril Smith: Is the hon. Member saying that he is not opposed to regional policy and that all he argues about is the form that it should take?
      Mr. Hordern: I am not opposed to regional policy; I am in favour of it. Our industrial base is now far too small. We cannot export properly and create more wealth unless we enlarge our industrial base. We cannot enlarge our industrial base unless we attract other firms with the technology and expertise that we need. The regional incentives that we provide have been ineffective so far. We still have unemployment that is much too high in the regions. We still have old industry, and we still give far too many resources to the old industries. We pride ourselves on the amount of money that we give per head to those industries.
      It is not right to expect the new generation in the North-East to grow up on the basis that the only outlook that it will have is an industry—perhaps shipbuilding—that has no real prospects of selling its product. That is not the way forward for this country.
      There are many so-called technical objections to applying differential rates of tax. I simply do not believe that there cannot be a differential form of corporation tax for the firms that are indigenous to those areas. I appreciate that there would be difficulties when dealing with large companies. However, such a scheme would offer attractions to small companies to start up, knowing that for
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      10 years they would not be paying tax on their profits. It would be a means of helping small firms, and it would draw large international firms into those areas. Goodness knows, we have tried every other method.
      With due respect to the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham), he put forward a nit-picking argument when he said that our form of regional incentives are not as good as those offered by the previous Administration. Both Labour and Conservative Governments have tried for many years to provide better regional incentives. The result is that we have presided over the industrial degeneration of large sectors of our country. It is time that we tried some other method.
      Mr. Lawrence Cunliffe: As a political apprentice serving on my first Committee, I appreciated the help which was given to me to understand the mechanics, intrigue and straight ideological conflicts that take place between hon. Members on both sides in Committee.
      The Government's programme and legislation depict their attitude towards a philosophy that is obviously consistent with the sectional profits interest of the economy. Previous Conservative Governments adopted a similar style. However, there is some distinction between the present Government and the Conservative Government of 1972. The 1972 Government recognised and accepted that there had to be some form of intervention and that regional incentive instruments were necessary to adjust some of the disparities that existed within our regions.
      5.15 pm
      As we debated some of the clauses, it became clear that the Secretary of State had adopted a rigid attitude. If the prime object of the disqualification of regional incentive grants is economic and financial, at the end of the day the real point of the exercise is to save £233 million—the figure given in the Budget.
      The area status in my constituency has been degraded, and we are in the unenviable position of facing peculiar problems that have been created by a peculiar Minister. The Secretary of State will remember that he kindly received a delegation of North-West Members to put their case, as he exhorted them to do.

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      He said that if there were special problems he would consider them, put them under the microscope and re-study the position as reported to him from time to time. After putting the case with absolute clarity, I detected that he was somewhat confused about the way in which some of the clauses would activate themselves in practice. There was concern that some of the phraseology used—we faced this when the guidelines were published in Committee—did not mean what it was originally intended to mean.
      In my constituency, within the same metro-area, the Minister has drawn an arbitrary line straight through the centre. On a "rob Peter to pay Paul" basis, he degraded my area and upgraded another area within the same metro-area to full development status.
      The Minister said yesterday that he wished to find some common ground between the two sides of the House. He could start by extending to me the gesture of acknowledging that when the lines of demarcation were drawn in the incentive areas my constituency, along with its neighbour the Wigan metropolitan district council, ought to have been accorded full development status. We could find common ground on that issue.
      I have news for my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Mr. Ellis), who is having problems with the mountains in Wales. The Secretary of State said that we must have faith to move mountains. He said that to be downgraded was a sign of hope. So we have faith, hope—and what else? We have faith, hope and disparity. The argument is about the regional imbalances and social disparity, not only in industrial incentives but in education and every other imperative that is necessary to raise the standard of living in the North-West and Northern regions.
      We cannot achieve anything by normal, rational methods of persuasion. I think that Mr. Speaker would have told us to seek divine guidance. I hoped that the Secretary of State would have some message of an industrial messiah—a great paraclete coming down on the industrial arena. I found that the right hon. Gentleman was masquerading. We heard the same old corny comments about the long-suffering taxpayer, that industry must stand on its own feet and that the incen-
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      tives that were introduced by the Government of the right hon. Member for Sidcup (Mr. Heath) were not really appropriate to set industry alight.
      I shall not accuse the right hon. Gentleman of Machiavellian moonshine, but his behavour in dealing with some of the regional aid services—the way in which he has decimated our industrial incentive structure—reminds me of some uncontrolled industrial dalek zooming around and shooting down any schemes for regional aid that cost cash. That is what it is all about: regional aid costs cash.
      We are not talking about the creation of new jobs. It is a question of the criteria for the existing regional incentive grants. Perhaps the criteria are wrong and ought to be reconsidered before we allocate industrial investment grants.
      The proposed charges of successive Governments in respect of the Greater Manchester area hinge on the question of unemployment rates. That is the principal element. Some of us are not convinced that it is the only imperative which must be taken into account when one is deciding whether an allocation of grant is a logical distribution of taxpayers' money.
      There is something that it does not do, which clearly accounts for the Wigan upgrading, which I have accepted. There are three serious deficiencies in using this kind of criterion. It conceals a wide variation in unemployment rates within certain travel-to-work areas, which can be as high as 25 per cent. in inner city areas. I do not want to mention names, because other hon. Members will want to talk about their constituencies. However, there are parts of the Manchester inner city area where unemployment is far more serious than in many other areas that are due to become assisted areas. That takes no account whatever of the fact that average earnings in Greater Manchester are significantly below the national average. That should be an element in the criterion, not just to our area but to every other area of the country, because such a formula would be more penetrating and effective.
      It also denies the sheer scale of the unemployment problem and the existence of multi-deprivation, which tends to be extreme in the inner areas of the country. Social and environmental problems ought

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      to be taken into account as well as the lack of economic opportunities, otherwise the plight of inner urban residents is worsened because most of them are unable to secure better opportunities elsewhere.
      Yesterday the Secretary of State said that he longed for common ground between us. I accept the scenario for this country which is at present on the horizon. There are opportunities. North Sea oil gives us an advantage in securing full employment and rising living standards. The new technologies also hold out the prospect of faster growth and a better quality of life for all. That is particularly true of the micro technology that is on the horizon—the silicon chip. That is a classic example which will have a major impact on all our lives.
      For obvious reasons, I believe that only a Labour Government can ensure that our people derive the benefits from these opportunities. However, in order to take advantage of those opportunities, we must improve our industrial competitiveness both at home and abroad. We must ensure that our industries adapt to the new markets and technological changes. It also means easing the cost of rapid industrial change for working people. That is exactly what the previous Government tried to do and partly achieved.
      The crude market forces advocated by the Government will not and cannot achieve those changes in a way that will be acceptable to the British people. As I said on Second Reading, the Government's industrial strategy is like the blind leading the blind. There is nothing permanent, stable or solid about it. What we need is a firm industrial employment strategy which increases productivity, adds to investment and creates new jobs.
      It is my belief that regional incentives are absolutely imperative if those aims and objectives are to be fulfilled. They are essential if we are to redress once and for all the economic imbalances between region and region. The Greater Manchester, Northern, Scottish and Welsh regions need greater and more urgent consideration in order to take account of the disparities in the South-East, which from time to time the Government in London have imposed upon them.
      Mr. John Patten: Anyone listening to today's debate or to the debates in Committee could not but be aware of the passion and commitment felt by many Labour Members. I have listened to the hon. Members for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham), and for Wrexham (Mr. Ellis) and other Labour Members. It is quite clear that their regions are the most deprived regions of the country, not only on economic but on social and environmental grounds, and I appreciate that their feeling is deep. I would not want any Labour Member to think that Conservatives who come from more fortunate regions discount any of those feelings.
      But I ask Labour Members to reflect whether the course on which we set out in the 1930s—when we began with the special development areas legislation—has turned out to be the right course over the past century. We seem to have set ourselves two tasks. The first was to delineate exactly which regions were in need of help and which regions were not. That is a difficult task which often involves an element of rough justice, rather like boundary redistributions or the granting of independent television franchises.
      The second component has been that of trying to assess the amount needed and the amount available in Government aid to give to the economy of those areas as well as to their environment and social structure. Those have been the two most coherent thrusts of regional policy since the 1930s. The hon. Member for Whitehaven referred to the growth of some sort of consensus between the two major parties in their approaches towards the regions. In yesterday's debate, we were reminded by Labour Members how the Industry Act 1972 added to that consensus.
      I suggest that that consensus has now been broken on both sides of the House. I believe that it has been broken by Labour Members, because in their desire to extend the NEB—their creation—and other methods and techniques they have decided to go very much further in the direction of investment than regional policy has ever gone in the past half century. That is a valid approach to take, but I believe that it has broken the consensus. Does the hon. Member for Whitehaven wish to intervene?
      Dr. John Cunningham: Not really. I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman, because the main burden of the NEB's task was not regionally oriented at all. That is what I disagree with.
      Mr. Patten: Many of the NEB's investment decisions, while not specifically directed towards a regional task under the 1975 Act, have, because of the investment opportunities that have been taken up, been directed towards the regions. I hope that that satisfies the hon. Gentleman.
      We have also broken the consensus because we have decided that the time has come to take stock and perhaps to change the course of regional policy. Since regional policy began, there has been an inexorable growth of special development and development areas until more than 40 per cent. of the country was covered by areas in receipt of Government assistance.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: As my hon. Friend was not here at the time, it is important to point out that, while there may have been consensus across the Front Benches on the subject of the Industry Act 1972, there most certainly was not consensus on the Back Benches on this side of the House.
      Mr. Patten: Anyone who reads my hon. Friend's column in the Sunday Telegraph will realise how little consensus there was then. I was not saying that that consensus was right or wrong. I was merely observing that the 1972 Act could be taken as part of a consensus on regional policy.
      The Government have decided to take stock of the whole policy. This is achieved through the clause that the Opposition are seeking to delete. My personal feeling is that the clause does not go anywhere near far enough. My hon. Friends need not fear that I shall not go into the Government lobby, but the clause, I hope, is merely a holding operation for what will be a wider stocktaking of our regional policy over the next five years.
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      We should continue to try to define the areas that really need help and relate those areas to the amount of revenue that the country can afford to spend on regional development. We should continue to spend money, possibly
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      more money, in certain areas—for example, on the social structure of some regions and some of the metropolitan centres that dominate them. French planning policy, in trying to correct the imbalance between Paris and the French desert, has tried to stress in its metropole ďequilibre the growth of cultural and other facilities.
      We must continue to spend money on environmental improvements, on infrastructure, on roads and on all the other manifestations of regional policy. Is the money for investment in factories, plants and machinery spent in the best way? I have my doubts. I believe, to use a phrase that was heavy in the air earlier today, that there is broad empirical evidence, a phrase that often falls from the lips of the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Holland).
      Mr. Budgen: What does it mean?
      Mr. Patten: I have no idea. I should be happy to be told, at a later stage, by the hon. Member for Vauxhall what the phrase means.
      Mr. Stuart Holland Mr. Stuart Holland rose—
      Mr. Patten: I give way happily now.
      Mr. Holland: It was not clear to me at what later stage the hon. Gentleman intended to give way. I do not find the general economic illiteracy of some Conservative Members my personal responsibility. Their understanding of the English language is a problem for them.
      Mr. Patten: My hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), other hon. Friends and I have tried to persuade the hon. Member for Vauxhall to answer a direct question. I hope that one day we shall succeed. I believe that there is broad empirical evidence to suggest that the economic subventions given to firms in terms of plant, capital and factories have not had the dominating effect in persuading managements to move into the regions that any of us, 20 or 30 years ago, would have expected. There is no point in having policies unless those policies can be seen to work.
      We need to take a long, hard look at our expenditure on economic matters and on investment as opposed to social, environmental and infrastructure matters in special development areas and in development areas. I do not believe that

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      the policies of Governments of either party have produced the results and benefits that hon. Members hoped would occur. I was much taken by the speech of my hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern), who has broadened our horizons by making us stand back and look at the possibility of other devices for inducing more companies, not only manufacturing companies, to go to the regions that need them. I was distressed to hear the hon. Member for Whitehaven refer all the time to manufacturing industry. I do not believe that the term "service industry" occurred in his speech.
      My hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Crawley suggested that we might consider, as part of our strategy, the introduction of tax-free holidays for corporation tax on new factories. I suggest that this should also apply to old factories in those regions in order to try to create a more attractive portfolio to bring firms into the regions. It is critically important that the techniques applied to the regions for the last half century should not necessarily be regarded as those that will fit us for the next half century. We should perhaps consider changes in employers' contributions in manufacturing and service industries in some of the regions.
      The mere giving of 22 per cent. or 15 per cent. grants on plant and buildings in special development areas and development areas, respectively does not seem to have been an adequate carrot. It is my contention that all hon. Members need to stand back from the policies of the last half century and try to make sure that we are not mindlessly carrying on a process that has so far failed to deliver the goods which all of us, 20 years ago, hoped would be delivered.
      Mr. John Evans: I should like very much to follow the remarks of my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Mr. Cunliffe) in relation to regional policy. I should certainly like to have followed the two Conservative Members, the hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern), who made a thoughtful contribution, and the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Patten). In view of the fact, however, that I have made many speeches on regional policy and have made my position clear, I shall not repeat my views.
      786
      It is pleasing to know that compassionate common sense has not completely deserted the Tory party, although what the hon. Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) and those on his wing of the party will make of the speeches of their two colleagues, God knows. We shall have to wait, perhaps, for the next issue of the Sunday Telegraph to read about the continuing divisions in the Conservative Party.
      I wish to concentrate briefly on amendment No. 22, which deals with the question of the cut-off date. Hon. Members must be aware that this matter is causing serious concern in areas that are due to lose assisted area status. It is understandable that many local authorities that are losing their assisted area status are bitter and angry about what the Government have done. Many of those areas are Conservative-controlled. They are made doubly angry by the cut-off date of 1 August 1980 imposed upon them. Many have made representations to Members of Parliament. They point out that many companies will face severe difficulties if the Government adhere to the arbitrary cut-off date of 1 August.
      Apart from the anger and bitterness of local authorities, there is genuine fear among companies now building plants and embarking upon projects in these areas that recognise that they cannot complete them before 1 August. The Bill is quite specific. It states that grants apply if the asset is provided before 1 August 1980. There was a long discussion on this matter in Committee. The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland indicated that whatever cut-off date was imposed and whatever transitional arrangements were made would be arbitrary and would hurt someone. We do not doubt that. We seek in the amendment to make the cut-off date more fair to those who will be involved.
      In Committee I read out letters I have received from a substantial number of authorities in the North-West such as Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside. I do not intend to read them aagin. All have made representations to us about the dangers involved in the cutoff date of 1 August. Many of them spell out the projects that are involved. They also indicate the increased dangers they will face as a consequence of the present strike in the steel industry. Even if the

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      strike is settled in the near future, as we all hope, there will in the next few weeks be a delay in the supply of steel to people who are building their factories and plant. In that context, things will be made even more difficult for them.
      We have sought in the amendment to indicate to the Minister a much fairer method of imposing the changeover on those who are concerned with it. I asked the Secretary of State, in a written question, if he would indicate to me the number of organisations and authorities which had made representations to him. In his answer he spelt out certain aspects to me, and he concluded:
      "Representations about these changes have been received from a number of sources including local authorities. The detailed information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate cost."—[Official Report, 25 January 1980; Vol. 977, c. 409.]
      In view of that answer, I wonder how many local authorities, at both district and county level, have made representations. Even more importantly, I wonder how many companies have made representations. When these companies entered into agreements to provide plant in the assisted areas, they were acting under the terms of an Act of Parliament. They were dealing with the Department of Industry, they entered into these arrangements, and then suddenly they were told that the rules had changed. They have been told that unless they provide the asset by 1 August 1980 they will lose the grant.
      The Minister may say in his reply that the Government will look at the matter sympathetically, but the point is that the Bill will be an Act of Parliament. In our amendment, my hon. Friends and I are proposing the insertion of the words
      "Work on the asset is commenced before the passing of this Act".
      It is surely right to use those terms, because the measure is not yet on the statute book and we would be dealing only with those projects which were at a well advanced stage in the pipeline
      "and completed before 1st August 1981."
      I do not think that anyone would then be able to argue that his project could not be completed by that date.
      I remind the Minister that projects were agreed and contracts were signed
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      the day before the Secretary of State made his announcement in July. This is not an ideological argument or an Opposition argument designed to score points off the Government. It is a plea to the Government to treat with equity and fairness those companies which have gone to the regions and which are providing jobs. Treat those people fairly, and we shall have no complaint. I ask the Minister to accept the amendment.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I want principally to address my remarks to amendment No. 24, which is grouped together with amendments Nos. 21 and 22—rather like the two parts of a push me-pull you, because they point in somewhat opposite directions.
      I want to pick up something that the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Cunliffe) said, when he suggested that I was in complete discordance with my hon. Friends who have spoken from the Conservative Benches. I can assure him that he is quite wrong. I found myself very much in agreement with the remarks of the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. Evans). I was also very much in agreement with the remarks of my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford (Mr. Patten). I found myself generally in agreement with my hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern), although I must admit that I am dubious about having a tax holiday attached to a type of tax which, as was pointed out, the vast majority of sensible companies no longer pay anyway. That is the reservation that I have.
      Before turning to my own amendment—
      Mr. Hordern: The point, of course, was that the service industries are the ones which pay the corporation tax at the moment, and it would make a considerable difference to them if they were able to go into the development areas and pay no corporation tax at all.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: Yes, I see that point, although I am bound to say that I would have thought that the bulk of what the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) described as foot-loose investment, certainly from overseas, would be more likely to be on the manufacturing side. If the Japanese are really unaware that manufacturing companies in this country, broadly speaking, do not

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      pay corporation tax, they will need to get themselves informed more rapidly.
      5.45 pm
      If I may say so, the hon. Member for Whitehaven advanced his case with great moderation and lucidity. His problem—it has been the problem that all the regionalisers have had from the beginning of time—is that the policy has not worked. The position is as bad as ever, but the regionalisers want more of the same policy. They are like mad doctors who, confronted with the fact that cough mixture has failed to deal with diphtheria, say that the answer is to give more cough mixture and that one day it will work.
      Then there is the matter of definitions, which has already been mentioned. How is the area to be defined? This is always a terrible problem. In my experience, every time a Government introduce a new regional weed, there is very little satisfaction among those areas of the country which benefit from it and vast indignation from those which do not. I suspect that there is but one real solution. We must appoint the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Holland) to an office of profit under the Crown as the grand commander-in-chief, major-domo and strategist of the regionalisation industry, with total power to select each village, hamlet, district or pub to which a form of regional incentive should attach.
      Dr. John Cunningham: The hon. Gentleman has used a medical metaphor. In terms of the broad spectrum of economic opinion in the country, he is more likely than I am to be described as a quack. However, as for the efficiency or otherwise of regional policy, he is right to say that it has not succeeded in solving the problem. I agree with him thus far. But that does not mean that he is right to conclude that it is a failure. We are saying that it has to be made more effective.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I am aware that that is what the hon. Gentleman is saying. It is precisely the argument with which I was dealing.
      Mr. Stuart Holland Mr. Stuart Holland rose—
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: If the hon. Gentleman will allow me.
      I think I had better develop my remarks. Like my hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Crawley and my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, I be-
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      lieve that we need differential incentives to regional development. But, like them, I believe that we have got the wrong ones. In my view, the best of them was the one that the hon. Member for Whitehaven and his hon. Friends terminated—the regional employment premium. That had the virtues of certainty, a total absence of discretion on the part of civil servants, and, above all, it was labour-identified, labour-oriented and labour-intensive. One of the most foolish actions that the previous Government took was to abolish it. I would be quite happy to see it reinstated and the rest removed.
      Mr. Stuart Holland Mr. Stuart Holland rose—
      Mr. Bob Cryer Mr. Bob Cryer (Keighley) rose—
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I do not think that the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr Cryer) has been in the Chamber while I have been making most of my remarks. Therefore, I give way to the hon. Member for Vauxhall.
      Mr. Holland: It is quite clear that the hon. Member is still basically opposed to regional policy, despite his sympathy for his hon. Friends the Members for Horsham and Crawley (Mr Hordern) and for Oxford (Mr. Patten). It is also quite clear, from a review that he once wrote, in those hallowed—or should I say sephulchred—columns of the Sunday Telegraph, of an argument of mine on regional development, that he is unaware that regional employment premiums did not work. They did not work partly because of the massive wage differentials between this country and South-East Asia, where the cost of labour is a fraction of the cost here.
      The hon. Gentleman proposed me as the major-domo of regional development policy with an office of profit under the Crown. That would at least depend on my acceptance. I would not accept such a post. Despite the fact that many hon. Gentleman believe that there is but a banana skin between the Labour Party's policy for the regions and the concept of a commissar for regional development, it is not so. Labour policy is based on specific negotiations relating to specific circumstances with those involved, including the unions.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: Perhaps that intervention has saved the hon. Member

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      for Vauxhall a speech. I must proceed with my own. Amendment No. 24, which stands in my name, lays down that, where it is estimated that a regional development grant will attach to assets from which employment will be created on a scale of £10,000 or more per job to be created, the grant should be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.
      I am seeking to apply some restraint to the super capital-intensive treatment which attracts vast sums in grant and generates no employment. I seek also to extend the scope of parliamentary accountability. I hope that on the latter ground my amendment will command general assent on both sides of the House, and on the former ground I hope that I can demonstrate that there is a good case for support from my right hon. and hon. Friends.
      It is common knowledge that we face a major problem in bringing public expenditure—left on a runaway express by the last Government—under control. I do not suggest that the Department of Industry is the only Department which should be looking closely at its books, but in some respects it has a duty in that respect. That is a particular concern of my amendment.
      I cite three examples of what I mean. In 1978 the previous Government paid out £27·6 million in regional development grant to the Hoffman La Roche company at Dalry in Ayrshire. It was estimated that that particular investment would ultimately produce 450 permanent jobs. If my arithmetic is correct, that works out at about £60,000 per job to be created.
      Last year my right hon. and hon. Friends in their wisdom decided to provide £15·75 million in regional development grants to the Dow Corning Corporation to enable it to extend its factory in South Wales. That grant was for the creation of 125 jobs at a rate of £126,000 per permanent job created. Another project is the giant petrochemical complex looming over the horizon at Moss Morran in Fife. According to the latest accounts, this is likely to create 300 permanent jobs. The cost of this in automatic regional development grant is likely to be in the region of £75 million. That works out at about £250,000 per permanent job created.
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      Beyond that, there is the prospect of yet another petrochemical complex, this time on the Cromarty Firth. The details of that are not sufficiently advanced for us to know the scale of the employment to be created. However, the amount of regional development grant involved looks as though it might easily be in the region of £60 million or more and—surprise, surprise—the Dow chemical company is the beneficiary once again. That company must sometimes believe that there is at least one country in the world where money grows on trees.
      Mr. Alan Williams: The hon. Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) is addressing himself to a problem that we have all worried about over the last decade. I negotiated the Hoffman La Roche deal and authorised the payments. Often the payment is made not for the creation of jobs but in order to attract a project into this country which would be of value to our economy and which might otherwise have gone elsewhere.
      The Hoffman project would have stayed in Switzerland. What eventually led me to make that very considerable payment was not the number of jobs though they were welcome. What convinced me was that the project would bring a production capability into this country which did not exist, which would meet all our domestic needs and give an export potential. Over a 20-year time span the project would bring relief of £750 million on the balance of payments. In that case, in the Texaco instance and in the Moss Morran project, it was the balance of payments argument in relation to international mobile projects that tended to weigh with the Government rather than job creation.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I purposely placed the Hoffman La Roche project at the bottom of my scale of rising values because, of the three or four cases I have mentioned, that one may come nearest to justification. But I am deeply suspicious of the balance of payments argument. I recommend that the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) goes back and looks at the files on the aluminium smelters, and considers the balance of payments arguments that were advanced then and finds how matters worked out.

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      My next point is germane to the argument. The right hon. Gentleman said that the projects I mentioned would have gone elsewhere. He cited the case of Hoffman La Roche and spoke from intimate knowledge. I would not argue with him on that, but I do not believe for a moment that Moss Morran could have gone somewhere else or that Dow Corning could have gone elsewhere. Dow Corning was expanding an existing factory. An existing factory cannot be expanded in Switzerland or Germany. The factory was already there.
      The Moss Morran project is designed to make use of oil from the North Sea. Where else can such a project go if not to the East of Scotland? Of course it would have gone there. We are handing over to the petrochemical companies concerned a vast subsidy for doing what they would have done in any case and for projects that create no extra employment.
      6 pm
      Mr. Alan Williams: I am trying to help the hon. Gentleman. Obviously Moss Morran is a matter for the Government—they will have to make the final decision. To keep the record straight on the Dow Corning complex in South Wales, let me say that there was a choice-between upgrading that factory unit or one of the Continental units. The question was whether the company should concentrate its industrial future in Britain or take the option of another existing site on the Continent. For that reason, I originally authorised the grant for Dow Corning. After we left office, my successors also authorised it.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will be pleased when ICI closes down its silicon operation, as it almost certainly will as a result of this investment. From this one factory, Dow Corning will supply the equivalent of more than half the global production of silicon—a product that is in surplus at present. The weakest international producer of this commodity at present is ICI, and it will go to the wall. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman thinks that he has done a good job for the British taxpayer in that respect. I am bound to tell him that I do not. As I have already made clear, I believe that my
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      right hon. and hon. Friends are gravely mistaken in picking up this project which the Labour Government left behind.
      I wish to deal with the argument that regional development grants should have a cut-off point of job relationship, above which they should not be automatic as at present. The argument put forward by my right hon. and hon. Friends is that this would destroy the effectiveness of regional development grants because it depends on their automat city. I have a two-page letter here from my right hon. Friend on this matter. I was grateful to him for writing at such length and I shall not weary the House by repeating its contents. But in reading his reply I was reminded of Mr. Philip Guedalla's celebrated likening of the civil servant to
      "an inverted Micawber waiting for something to turn down."
      I do not think that that has disposed of my argument. At a time when we are right to seek some substantial retrenchment in public expenditure if we are to avoid landing ourselves with a public sector borrowing requirement next year which is unfinanceable, except at unacceptable rates of interest, it cannot be good value for money to provide tens of millions of pounds to bribe investment to settle where it would have gone anyway and where it would create no new jobs or virtually no new jobs. We must look at this again.
      I do not stand on the letter of my amendment. If my right hon. and hon. Friends believe that £10,000 is impossible and they wish to make it £25,000, I would accept that. However, I find it hard to accept the proposition that there is no way in which we can defend the taxpayer from the obligation to pay out these enormous sums. In each instance we are talking in terms of tens of millions of pounds paid out to persuade people to do what they intended to do in the first place, and all to no purpose in terms of creating employment where it is needed.
      That is what I had in mind in drafting the amendment. I beg my hon. Friend the Minister to consider seriously the proposition that, so long as we are handing out money on this scale and for this purpose, it will not be easy to carry conviction for the proposition that we have the retrenchment of public expenditure at heart.
      Mr. Cyril Smith: The House will agree that this is an important debate, not only in an economic and political sense but in a constituency sense as well. Therefore, I must express my concern—notin a personally abusive way—that in a debate that affects so many areas of the United Kingdom, particularly the Midlands and the North, we should find a Minister for Scotland sitting on the Front Bench throughout the debate and presumably reply to it. I have great respect for the Minister concerned and this is not a personal attack on him, but I suspect that he knows as much about the North-West of England as I know about Scotland. For him to attempt to answer for some of my constituency points is like my trying to answer a debate on the problems of Edinburgh.
      The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Alexander Fletcher): I am sure that the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) will take no exception to you—a Welshman—Mr. Speaker, being in the Chair for this debate. The hon. Member and I had a long talk about industrial development in the High Street in Oban during the Summer Recess a few years ago, and he seemed fairly familiar with Scotland then. Perhaps even more seriously, there is hardly an Englishman on the Front Bench in this debate because the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) lives so near to Scotland that he can swim across and another Scotsman, the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson), will wind up for the Opposition. I do not believe that either of those hon. Members or I are in any way disqualified from discussing United Kingdom regional policy, remembering that this House spent two or three years of the last Parliament discussing the affairs of Scotland. Perhaps it is just a little bit of tit-for-tat. I assure the hon. Member that everything he says about Rochdale will be taken into account in my speech when winding up the debate.
      Mr. Smith: I am grateful to the Minister for his intervention. Of course, I would not dare to object to your being in the Chair, Mr. Speaker. I can object to the Minister winding up because he has no power over me. I can hardly say the same about the Chair.
      I accept the Minister's intervenion in a sense, but I am a little disappointed
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      that Northern problems cannot be dealt with by a Minister responsible for the region rather than one who has no responsibility for England at all.
      The Under-Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. David Mitchell): May I assure the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) that there is one Minister from the Department of Industry here who will listen carefull to his speech and who will go through the the whole of Hansard to consider any matters affecting the Department of Industry?
      Mr. Smith: I think that we had better get on with the debate. Clearly, I have got under the Minister's skin, and that is something of an achievement.
      I believe strongly in regional aid and I reject the arguments that have been so blandly advanced by some Conservative Members that regional policy has failed. I do not accept that and I do not believe there is any evidence to prove that. Of course, there is evidence to prove that some developments would have taken place in some areas eligible for regional aid whether or not that aid had been available.
      Of course, there is such evidence. Some industries have been attracted to areas that are in receipt of regional aid. Surely that is the test of whether regional aid is good or bad. Industries and companies have been attracted to areas, certainly in the North-West and in my constituency, because those areas are in receipt of regional aid.
      The purpose of regional aid is to attract industry to particular areas of the country where it is deemed—for whatever reason—that industry is needed, and there are clear examples of industries being attracted to a certain area as a consequence of regional aid. I therefore reject the argument that regional aid is a failure.
      Mr. Tom Ellis: If one is judging the question of whether regional policy, not regional aid, has succeeded, the criterion that would presumably apply is whether it has succeeded in establishing economic parity across the country. Taking that criterion, regional policy has manifestly failed.
      Mr. Smith: That may be so, but, with respect to the hon. Gentleman, we would

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      have to determine the position had regional policy not been available before we can say that it has failed. My argument and my belief are that the figures would be far worse in terms of parity across the country if there had not been regional aid. To that extent, I argue that it has been successful.
      Mr. Geraint Howells: To prove the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith), may I point out that Mid-Wales has received regional aid, and during the last three years 188 advance factories have been built and nearly 5,000 more people have found jobs in my part of the world.
      Mr. Smith: I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardigan (Mr. Howells). If one argues that regional aid—or regional policy, whatever one wishes to call it—is not a failure, the only argument is about the form it should take.
      The hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern) made some valuable points. He said that he was in favour of a regional policy, and he asked about the form it should take. The hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Patten) also made some valuable points. There is a need to review the form of regional aid. I find it disconcerting that the Government are destroying what is there but putting nothing in its place. If they were altering the method, or if they intended to abolish one method and replace it with another in 12 months' time, that would be a different argument.
      Mr. John Evans: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that one of the plus points put forward by the Government is that they are concentrating their assistance on areas that are most in need? Is he also aware that they have taken £230 million from the regional aid budget and have given it to the wealthy? If they had put that £230 million into areas with the greatest problems, that could have been justified.
      6.15 pm
      Mr. Smith: However the Government disguise or dress up the Bill, the fact is that they had to reduce regional aid by £230 million. It was an economic exercise, an exercise in reducing Government expenditure.
      The hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley said that in his constituency
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      there was no unemployment problem and that there had not been an unemployment problem for the last 15 years. I am delighted to hear that. He is lucky. That is not the experience of many hon. Members in the North-West.
      In my constituency we are heavily dependent on the textile industry, which is slowly bleeding to death. Three mill closures in my constituency have been announced during the nine months since the Government took office. My constituency is one that has been downgraded as I see it and upgraded as the Secretary of State sees it in regard to regional aid. Even without those mill closures, if one were to view the area in social terms as well as mere economic or employment terms, there is no doubt that my constituency would measure up to all the criteria. It is an area of deprivation. It benefited from the Industrial Revolution, but it now suffers as a consequence. The area has lost a great deal of industry, and it has all the problems of inner cities in social terms. That criterion apparently counts for nothing, and the area is to be deprived of its regional classification.
      I turn now to skillcentres. There was an intervention about skillcentres during the speech of the hon. Member for White havent (Dr. Cunningham). It was said that people were trained at skillcentres and then were not able to find jobs, because of union policy and so on. In modesty, I claim to be in touch with my constituents, and they have every possible access to me. Never once have I had a complaint from a constituent or anyone who has been trained in the skillcentre in my constituency that he has not been able to find a job because of trade union attitude or action or anything else. My experience certainly does not accord with the apparent experience of other hon. Members.
      I turn now to amendment No. 22 relating to the date of completion of a contract in order to attract a grant. This is an extremely important point for my constituency. A company in Rochdale contracted to build a factory before the Government announced their policy. It cannot complete, or it is unlikely to complete, that factory before 1 August 1980. If it is not completed, the company will lose the grant that it would have received. It will not even receive the grant for that

      799
      part of the building which has been completed.
      I understood that the House frowned on retrospective legislation. I put it to the Government that that is retrospective legislation. Indeed, I go as far as to describe it as immoral.
      Some companies—and I know of one—have contracted to put a factory in an area and would therefore have been eligible for a regional grant. We are talking not about chicken-feed but of six-figure grants. Those companies will have gone into an area in good faith, believing that they would have a grant. They now find that they will not get a grant even for that part of the scheme which is completed by 1 August 1980. That is immoral.
      The Government could at least limit the grant only to projects that were started before they announced their new policy, which I believe is what the amendment does. Even if the Government oppose such grants, surely they will agree that it is grossly unfair for a company which has morally contracted on the basis that substantial Government funds will be available to find, after the contract is started, that the grant that it has been promised is no longer available.
      I press that point strongly. When the Minister first introduced the policy, I questioned him on that point and also wrote to him afterwards. It is grossly unfair on any criterion. It is immoral and uneconomic to stop those grants. Companies have gone to the Department of Industry, have been told that sums are available to them and have signed legal contracts for building. They have purchased land and agreed to proceed. The Government then change their policy, and a company loses all the money that it understood it would receive when it signed legal contracts with builders. That is indefensible. I plead with the Government to reconsider that issue if nothing else.
      I ask the Government at least to play ball and say that any company that can prove—and it must be on the record—that it entered into contracts in good faith before the Government announced their policy will, on completion of the project, even if it is after 1 August 1980, receive a grant at the level at which it originally believed that it would be available.
      Mr. David Mitchell: Will the hon. Gentleman apply his mind to problems that may arise where a large amount of business is not done in the form of a written contract? Many business contracts are made verbally. Firms that have done business together over a number of years often place contracts on the basis of a verbal agreement. Under the hon. Gentleman's proposals, what would happen then?
      Mr. Smith: Reasons for not doing things can always be found. With great respect, I accept the Minister's intervention, but those in the Department's regional offices can surely form a judgment whether they are being taken for a ride and being kidded. If they are not satisfied, of course they will not make aid available. However, if there are signed contracts available, even though it is unfortunate for those without such contracts, companies should be exempted from that retrospective legislation.
      Mr. John Evans: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the Minister appears to be suggesting that the Department of Industry has been handing out large sums of taxpayers' money on the basis of word-of-mouth contracts?
      Mr. Smith: That would appear to be the implication of the Minister's intervention.
      I am in a small business myself, and I find it difficult to believe that companies will enter into contracts involving large sums of money on the basis of word-of-mouth contracts. Surely a bill of quantities and a plan will be drawn up. There will be something in writing about the price. I find it difficult to accept that that will all be done by word of mouth. If companies are daft enough to have nothing in writing, presumably they should accept the penalty of their stupidity.
      One thing is certain. There are companies that contracted in writing before the Government announced their policy. They can prove their case and should be exempted from what I believe is retrospective legislation.
      Finally, I have one most important point in connection with withdrawal of development area status for many parts of the country. The Secretary of State indicated, more by gesture than by speech,

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      that the Government would be considering the matter. I hope that in this debate we shall have an answer. I should like to know what the effect of that withdrawal will be on grants from the EEC.
      If an area loses its development status, it will automatically also lose its right to Common Market grants. It is sheer chance that that is the criteria used by the EEC. It could have used other criteria, which it has used in the past, before development area status was available. If an area does not have development area status, it can lose the opportunity to apply for EEC grants.
      The Secretary of State indicated, although he did not give a direct commitment, that before the opportunity to apply for an EEC grant ran out in about 1982 or 1983 Ministers would negotiate within the EEC to try to establish a different criterion for eligibility. The land reclamation grant is one possibility. An area eligible for that grant might also be eligible for EEC aid.
      Have the Government yet started those negotiations? If not, before the present position expires, will they assure us that they will discuss with the EEC a different criterion from mere development area status?
      I hope that my remarks are constructive. I should like assurance son retrospective legislation and the effect of not having development area status in obtaining EEC grants. I should not be satisfied that the Government's policy was correct merely because those points were answered, but if I received such assurances I should feel that my contribution had been worth while.
      Mr. James Hill: The debate has ranged widely over these three narrow amendments.
      The hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) asked about development area status with regard to EEC regional policy grants. I played a large part in the formation of the original EEC regional policy programme. I recollect that individual areas have no right to apply direct to the Commission for regional grants. Indeed, they have only a right to apply to their own central Government, who then specify the areas that they think should be allowed to apply for a grant.
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      There was some discontent at the beginning of the formation of the Delmotte documents and deputations were received in Brussels on this, particularly from Scotland as I remember. Local authorities were very indignant that, the regional fund having been agreed, they could not go direct to Brussels. They had to go via the Minister responsible for regional policy—in those days it was Christopher Chataway who was representing this country—and they felt that they could get their voices heard only through London and that this was a bias against the peripheral areas of the United Kingdom.
      When my hon. Friend the Minister replies, I think that we shall hear that the EEC regional policy has not changed. Indeed, the United Kingdom regional policly funding matches it pound for pound. The areas that will be put forward in future will be the new areas as defined by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in a debate some months ago. If I have done anything to muddy the water, I apologise to the House. Nevertheless, that is an important point.
      6.30 pm
      I have not heard of the meeting to be held in 1982–83. That meeting may or may not have new guidelines, or new criteria, for the giving of regional aid to the United Kingdom in conjunction with the EEC. We shall have to follow its progress with great interest, because it will be a matter of some importance, especially when we consider the enormous size of the Community budget, which will climb still more in the years to come.
      My fear is that our percentage benefits from the social fund and, perhaps, the regional fund might be increased in a way that will allow the Community to say that our budget input is that much less and that, therefore, there will be no "cash on the table", which is the popular term. Then will come the difficult decision for Her Majesty's Government. The Government will have to decide whether, if the regional policy fund is increased in consultation with the Heads of State, we shall be in a position to match that new increase pound for pound.
      We have had a sledgehammer of a debate. The heat that has emanated from many hon. Members is out of all proportion to the amendment before us. One

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      can imagine one or two of the worthy Opposition Members getting together and saying "What would make a wonderful amendment? Why not cut out the whole of clause 13? Let us start with that." There seems to be no point in that, unless they put in alternative figures. They know that they cannot go back to the status quo. Consequently, the first amendment does little or nothing to help. I suppose that it has reduced the totals—this was the main argument in Committee—by 3 per cent.
      Some hon. Members who knew that unemployment in their areas was growing were rightly worried that this percentage drop could make manufacturers and investors turn away from some of the peripheral areas. I do not think that it will have the slightest effect. Some of the suggestions put forward by my hon. Friends might have an even greater effect in turning manufacturing and investment money away from the peripheral areas. However, I do not think that a 3 per cent. drop will have any effect whatever in determining whether a manufacturer, an investor or a conglomerate or multinational goes to one of the peripheral areas.
      The nub of the question was answered in Committee. Infrastructure is the answer. We heard from some of the charming Welsh Opposition Members a description of a beautiful country, but one could not get from one end of it to the other without climbing many hills. We even went to the extent of talking about the Alps and how it had been possible to drive tunnels through them. It was asked why we could not drive tunnels through the Welsh hills. We began to spend not only the United Kingdom's proportion of the EEC fund but also that of the other eight members.
      There is no doubt but that some of the peripheral areas will never be developed to the extent that some Welsh Members would wish. The transport infrastructure, the ports, airports, main roads and distribution centres that are necessary could not be provided. It is not geographically possible.
      The original European regional fund was set up to stop population drift, which is one of the problems of peripheral areas. It was also set up to distribute prosperity. Our great problem at present is that the
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      traditionally prosperous areas are no longer prosperous. The original concept of the regional fund was to spread prosperity, and it is becoming more and more difficult to do that.
      As my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen) so eloquently stated, there is a push-pull effect in the funding for regional policy. It is almost as if when an area is on one side of the road it is entitled to aid, but if it is on the other side of the road it is not. That means that certain manufacturers can move 20 or 30 miles to benefit from nearby regional aid, possibly taking their labour forces with them, which could have a backlash effect on competing industry. That is a worry when we are not actually moving prosperity but spreading the diminishing scale of prosperity over a greater area.
      I know now from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's speech the new areas of his regional policy. It has now moved away from a little for everybody—the European term for that is the "water can"—over a large area to the "hosepipe" effect—which is my own term—with as much concentration as possible in areas with the biggest percentage of unemployment. As I said in Committee, I am in a good position to talk about regional policy because I have no bias at all. I have no axe to grind. My area has never had any regional aid, and unless things become very bad in this country I do not think my area will ever get regional aid.
      Mr. Hardy: Turn the hose on it.
      Mr. Hill: Although Labour Members may find the term "hosepipe effect" amusing, they are virtually asking to be bathed from the hosepipe. My right hon. Friend is in great difficulty because he has to take part in these cuts, in which all of his fellow Secretaries of State have to participate. He must find ways of saving a percentage. The percentages here are so small that I think that the outcry is far in excess of what it should be.
      I cannot talk about amendment No. 24, in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) because, frankly, I do not understand it. I am sure that he explained it very well. I was probably not paying attention.

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      Whether it is £10,000 or £25,000 per head, or some other mysterious way of computing, I do not understand it. That is probably completely my fault.
      I have no sympathy at all with amendment No. 21, but I think that there is a point to amendment No. 22. The asset has to be completed by 1 August 1980. Anyone who deals with investment development will know that the time scale for that is generally between three and five years. One has the difficulties of planning first, and the difficulties of materials and of the infrastructure. One has all the problems of getting a new factory together. They are not all built like biscuit tins. One cannot walk into them and switch on the electricity in the morning and be ready for production.
      On the time scale in the Bill, it is fairly certain that the Bill will receive Royal Assent before July, and it seems to me that, if there is to be any discretion, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland—I know that he is listening intently to a southern Member—will probably be able to say at the end of the evening, in conjunction with all whom it is necessary to consult, that this time scale is a bit arbitrary and that the Government will probably be leaning over backwards to make sure that any agreements or developments that are not finished by 1 August will be given every consideration.
      I do not think that regional policy is a failure. It has obviously not succeeded. The hopes of many hon. Members have been dashed. But it is not a failure. Within the European context, it is something from which we would be unable to pull away without grave loss. Certainly, if we were to give up 28 per cent. of the European regional fund because we refuse to give the equivalent ourselves, it would be a devastating blow to the economy of the peripheral areas. Although we have not succeeded here, we should not give up hope.
      Several Hon. Members Several Hon. Members rose—
      Mr. Speaker: Order. Before I call the next hon. Member, perhaps I may say that I understand that we are in for a long and late sitting but that we might ease our late suffering if a little brevity is practised at this stage. I say that without wishing to cramp anyone's individual
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      style, and there is no reflection upon the hon. Gentleman whom I now call.
      Mr. Tom Ellis: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am quite heartened.
      I preface my few brief remarks by trying to explain to the hon. Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. Hill) why we have moved the main amendment to delete the clause. It is not for any perverse, malevolent or idiosyncratic reason. It is not even simply for the reason that it gives us a peg on which to talk about regional policy in more general terms. Most importantly, it is because all of us on the Opposition Benches question whether regional policy has failed.
      That leads me to the point made by the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith). Clearly, no one is saying that regional policy has done nothing. It has done a lot. All of us in the peripheral areas would be worse off without it. We accept that. But it is a question of what exactly we are after. Perhaps the best metaphor I can give—if it is not infelicitous this week of all weeks—would be to say that it is pointless for any young woman who is unmarried to say "I am only a little bit pregnant." One either has economic parity or one does not.
      6.45 pm
      Therefore, when I say that when viewed from the periphery regional policy has failed, I mean simply that if the policy and objective—and I emphasise this—are to establish economic parity broadly, as near as one can, across the regions of the country, manifestly the policy has failed over a long period of 40 years or so.
      I want to comment briefly on two remarkable and refreshing speeches from Conservative Members. They were made by the hon. Members for Oxford (Mr. Patten) and for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern). I found both speeches very refreshing indeed, because they seemed to be independent-minded speeches. They questioned accepted wisdom. I think that independent questioning of accepted wisdom is one of the supreme parliamentary virtues. It was refreshing to see this coming from those two speakers.
      The hon. Member for Oxford served on the Standing Committee. Without being immodest and, I hope, without

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      deceiving myself, I think that our discussions on these matters in Committee have proved fruitful. Possibly this debate will prove fruitful if it gives people cause to think seriously and deeply about the issues. The hon. Member spoke about a decided change of policy occurring. The way that he put it was that the consensus had gone. I think that he was partly right. When the Welsh Development Agency, for example, was established, either consciously or subconsciously it marked a sort of parting of the ways, some substantially new policy. Whether or not it would have succeeded we are unlikely to know, because now it appears that the Government are to butcher the thing and it will have no resemblance to the original concept of the WDA, the Scottish Development Agency and, for that matter, the National Enterprise Board.
      The hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley was even more interesting. He introduced some constructive, novel and, I suspect, possibly very sound suggestions. He began by talking about service and manufacturing industry. I think that it is important that we do not get muddled into believing that there is a sort of dichotomy—that it is either manufacturing industry or service industry. Of course, that is not so. I hesitate to use the word, but I understand that we are in a quaternary economy. I hesitate because, if the hon. Member for Oxford were present, he would probably want to know exactly what that term meant, and I am not sure—any more than is my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Holland)—that I would be able to explain it, but there is a range from the service to the manufacturing industries.
      The point that the hon. Member was making was that corporation tax holidays would apply substantially more to service industries of one kind or another than to straightforward manufacturing industry. That is a very interesting point, because many of us in the regions feel that we suffer from what has come to be known as the branch factory syndrome. That might be, apart from any other benefit, some kind of cure for that syndrome.
      The hon. Member talked about Ireland, which is a very good example indeed. Traditionally, Ireland has been
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      a poor country. Every poor country normally has three economic characteristics—unemployment, emigration and internal disinvestment. Ireland has suffered from the three. Through policies introduced, I suppose, after the secularisation of the country, after Sean Lemmas basically, there has been a substantial change in the Irish economy. It has succeeded in attracting industry. My hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall was critical of the deficit in Ireland's balance of payments and of the imbalance in taxation structures. However, for the first time since records have been kept, there has been a net migration into Ireland. That is a remarkable economic achievement by anybody's standards. After all, it is people that count. If one can attract people into a country, there is daylight at the end of the tunnel. Ireland has achieved that by a variety of methods, including that of corporation tax holidays.
      Perhaps the debate will prove fruitful. I urgently implore my colleagues not to give vent to cries of outrage at the suggestion of corporation tax holidays. They must pause and think. All parties have myths. The myth of the Labour Party is that we must not cut income tax because such a cut would help the rich. However, statistics show that over the past 30 years income tax has not achieved much distribution of wealth at the lower end of the scale. In 1950, 30 per cent. of taxpayers in Britain were earning 15·9 per cent. of earnings. The figure was exactly the same 23 years later. Therefore, the suggestion of the hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley should be studied by my party. Perhaps his suggestion would do something for regional policy. Perhaps it would introduce economic parity. That would be a substantial achievement.
      I was a little worried when my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall referred to the problems of Ireland. He was looking at the problems of the periphery with the eye of the centre. One could loosely say that London is the centre of British-Irish relations. He looks at the problem through different eyes. If he looked at the problems of the European Community from London, he would see them in a different way. He would be looking from the periphery and he would draw very different conclusions. We

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      should therefore consider whether our regional policy has succeeded in an absolute sense. Presumably, we shall never achieve the ideal. If we do not succeed, we may find ourselves in serious trouble.
      I shall address my final remarks, with respect, to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen). On numerous occasions he has argued that wealthy areas no longer exist. He asks why the West Midlands should suffer when money is going to Wales, Scotland or the North. Many of those who have studied this issue claim that regional policy is to the benefit of all. I think that the hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley also spoke alongthose lines. One could demonstrate that regional policy is not economically sound, as some areas may prosper while others stagnate. I shall give another typical example. If someone from Mars landed in America, he would notice that 80 per cent. of the population lived on the West Coast—San Francisco and Los Angeles—the East Coast, and the Chicago conurbation. He might think that something was wrong because Western man has not been able to devise a better system. There are many arguments in favour of the suggestion that the United Kingdom would benefit from a successful regional policy.
      If regional policy does not succeed in the long term, political damage may result. We recently had a debate on devolution that was resolved by a referendum. I believe that the argument was wrongly fought on the basis of separatism. However, if long-term discontent arises because central Government are not helping, it will result in political turbulence.
      There are few examples of successful regional policy. One example is that of West Berlin. West Berlin is on the periphery. It is in a disadvantageous situation, both geographically and economically. However, with one exception, West Berlin compares favourably with West Germany according to every economic criterion. The exception is that it does not compare favourably as regards the age structure. When someone is 65 years of age, he can cross to the other side of the wall. Of course, there are political reasons why West Berlin must prosper. It is politically important. Those of us on the periphery are beginning to draw the conclusion that it is political will that is important. People may have
      810
      taken a long time to wake up, but after 40 years many of them are doing so. It is therefore of crucial importance to reconsider the whole question if we are to benefit.
      Mr. D. A. Trippier(Rossendale): I would have thought that the parallel between regional development areas and West Berlin had been destroyed by the hon. Gentleman's own argument. I accept that money is being injected into West Berlin all the time. However, that money is being injected for purely political reasons, and those reasons have nothing to do with economics. There is no parallel.
      Mr. Ellis: I am tempted to explain something that would take a long time. However, I shall attempt to give a short lecture on economics that will take one minute. Basic trends have been established over the centuries. In Britain, that trend was towards the centre or towards the South-East. However, that trend was reversed by the Industrial Revolution, because industry was then located near mineral deposits. God put coal in South Wales and in Clydeside. He put iron ore, clay and other deposits around the country. Therefore, there was a reversal of that fundamental trend towards the centre. As a result of developments in advanced technology and of changes in the economic structure of industry, industry can now be located almost anywhere. Advanced technology industry is based on knowledge, not on mineral deposits. If the finest iron ore and coking coal were to be found in Shotton, it would not necessarily imply that Shotton was the best place for a steelworks.
      Our criticism of the Bill is that the Government ignore that trend. The Government think that that trend must be helped by market forces. However, that will result in 80 per cent. of the population living in London. The man from Mars would say that that was nonsense and that it was a monstrosity. The hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley recognises that. He realises that it is right for those living in Lancashire, Yorkshire or Northumberland to have their own society, community, culture and so on.
      This is an important issue. It concerns the structure and unity of Britain. If the Government cannot understand that.

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      they will play with fire. They will do a great deal of harm. I think that it is
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      too late. The Bill will go through. However, the damage to this country and to its political structure will be enormous.
      7 pm
      Mr. Budgen: I had not expected to trouble the House with my views on this subject because I felt I had too often expressed views about regional policy, but when the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) suggested that I was not prepared to put forward my views in a speech and to subject myself to the risk of his rigorous cross-examination I felt I was obliged to say something, and I hope I shall be forgiven for doing so.
      The hon. Member for Whitehaven said that the Tory Party was a free market party, a party of market forces. That is too simple. I am sure the hon. Gentleman would not wish to speak in such simple terms. There are some of the less wise of my hon. Friends who would talk of the Labour Party as though its members were all Communists, Marxists or Trotskyites. All political parties are coalitions. The Tory Party is and should be a coalition. It is a coalition between the Tory paternalists who in recent years, certainly in the early 1970s, have dominated our affairs and the Manchester Liberals. None of us would wish the Tory Party to be universally dominated by the point of view of one section of the coalition. As one who on many issues is a Manchester Liberal, I believe that we have no absolute insight into the truth. We wish only to have a constructive and fierce dialogue with the Tory paternalists so that a happy compromise may emerge out of the fruitful tension that comes from discussion.
      Surely my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry has in the past in other Ministries been an outstanding exponent of Tory paternalism and compassion, both in theory and in practice. What he is doing in the present regional policy proposals cannot be described as being wholly the work of a free market economist. The proposals for the intensification of regional policy in some areas and the withdrawal of regional policy from some areas are to be phased over three years. In the first three years, very little cutback in public expenditure is expected. That is what was expected in July of last year. Since then there have
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      been promises of substantially increased public expenditure in Wales, and I dare say that those on my side of the coalition will be appalled at the size of expenditure on industrial problems when the public expenditure White Paper is published before the Budget.
      Mr. John Patten: Does my hon. Friend agree that a second and serious defect in the argument advanced by the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) in his assertion that we were a free market party is that even after our changes in regional policy 25 per cent. of the country will still be in receipt of development aid either in special development or assisted areas? What is free market about that?
      Mr. Budgen: There never has been, either in theory or in practice, a totally free market. Adam Smith pointed out that, as soon as business men get together, their first desire is to prevent the operation of the free market. Those of us who assert the primacy of the market say that neither the market nor political forces are perfect. We say that if we have to choose between the inefficiency, corruption and sheer unpleasantness of the political process and the free market, it is on the whole better to allow the consumer to be king.
      My hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern) noted that much of the money made available for regional policy was on a discretionary basis. That is true. About £400 million will be made available under the non-discretionary grants system in the financial year 1982–83. If that is compared with the sums made available under the Industry Act 1972, the element of discretion is far and away the most important. That is the most disturbing element in the regional policy.
      I am sorry that the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) is not at present able to be in the Chamber. I do not wish to make the rather cheap point made against me by the hon. Member for Whitehaven. I am sure that the hon. Member for Keighley is doing important work elsewhere. A few moments ago I told him that I intended to refer to the useful speech he made yesterday. In it he referred to his fears that individual senior civil servants might get too close

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      to industries and firms with which they had to deal. I do not wish to associate myself with the instances that he particularised, but his general argument was serious and important. So long as a vast amount of aid is being given on a discretionary basis and being given to so many applicants and recipients that there is no possibility of individual Ministers who are accountable to the House knowing the details of it, there must be the risk of our Civil Service being damaged by that relationship.
      That is a good illustration of the comment made by Mr. Roy Jenkins just before he left for Brussels. Here I agree with most of the Labour Party in not being a great admirer of Mr. Roy Jenkins, but he is an articulate proponent of a particular point of view. He said that the public sector was reaching such a size that the independence and the freedom of our society were being jeopardised. When public sector handouts are being made on an arbitrary and discretionary basis, the dangers are even greater.
      The hon. Member for Wrexham (Mr. Ellis) let the cat out of the bag when he said that the objective of regional policy was economic parity. If that is the Labour Party's view, there can be no consensus, because I am sure that the Tory Party—particularly the paternalistic wing—would say that it was its duty to ameliorate serious economic imbalances, but we are emphatically not the party of parity or equality.
      Mr. Tom Ellis: Would the hon. Gentleman be prepared to say what he has just said to the annual conference of the Scottish National Party or the Welsh National Party?
      Mr. Budgen: I shall always say anywhere what is my view. Sometimes I am shouted down; sometimes I am listened to. But I try as far as possible to put forward the same kind of view to whatever audience I have the privilege of making a speech.
      A Tory regional policy can be only a short-term, makeshift thing. I hope that perhaps in three years' time it will be possible to reconsider the regional policy. One thing is clear. Regional policy has not worked in the regions to bring them the equality, the prosperity, the happiness and justice that is peddled by all those
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      who believe that every problem has a political solution. It has not done that; it has not had the effect that it was meant to have. It has had a harmful effect upon the once-prosperous areas of this country.
      Mr. John Evans: Claptrap.
      Mr. Budgen: It is not claptrap. The West Midlands and Wolverhampton were regarded in the 1950s and 1960s as "overheated" areas. I suppose it would be said that the levels of unemployment were too low. There were all the indications of overheating. We now have higher levels of unemployment than are experienced by many other areas which at present enjoy the benefits of the regional aid system. I am not saying that the problem is caused solely by the regional aid programme. However, the system of regional advantages and disadvantages has played a significant part.
      Mr. John Evans: Rubbish.
      Mr. Budgen: This is not rubbish.
      On 24 July 1979 my right hon. Friend referred to this matter—this is col. 366 in the Official Report—as something that had been stated to him frequently in the West Midlands. This is not rubbish. It is a fact that the West Midlands, and particularly Wolverhampton, were most greviously damaged by regional policy. Those hon. Gentlemen who believe in economic parity would say that I should be arguing for Wolverhampton to be made a special development area. Where does that end? I suppose that the process has to continue until we disadvantage Birmingham and then Oxford.
      Dr. John Cunningham: That is interesting. However, how does the hon. Gentleman explain the fact that the unemployment figures for the West Midlands are still below the national average?
      Mr. Budgen: That may be so for the West Midlands. However, that does not apply to Wolverhampton. [HON. MEMBERS: "Fraud."] No, this is not a fraud. Perhaps hon. Gentlemen would say that the Wolverhampton figures were temporarily worse because of the effect of the closure of the steelworks at Bilston. None the less, for the past year or so the Wolverhampton figures have been significantly worse than those for the rest of the West Midlands and those for many of the areas which enjoy some form of special

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      development status. If we are to continue this Socialist ideal of economic parity, the logic is that we keep ruining one place after another. That cannot be right for the whole country.
      I try to end on a note of some agreement with the hon. Member for Whitehaven. It is true that the West Midlands want the remainder of the United Kingdom to prosper. Our sense of concern for our fellow citizens is at least as strong as his. We do not criticise the kindliness, compassion and good intentions of those who advocate regional policies. We say that the method that has been tried since 1930 has certainly been found wanting.
      7.15 pm
      Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours: I shall use the amendment to make a speech that I should like to have made many months ago. On a number of occasions I have come prepared to speak on regional policy, but I have never been called.
      I come from a constituency in which regional policy has been of particularly great significance. Since 1935, when West Cumberland was designated as a distressed area, we have built our industrial base on the back of incentives provided by the Government. We have resolved our problems of increasing unemployment by relying on intervention in regional policy.
      We now view the Bill with great consternation, which is not unique to Members of Parliament. It is a consternation that is shared by all the local and county authorities in the county of Cumbria. Men and women suffered great degradation in the 1930s. At one period 31 per cent. of my constituents were out of work. Indeed, over a two-year period 4,000 people had to leave West Cumbria to find work in other parts of the country.
      Today the same people are confronted with a new looming level of unemployment. Indeed, since the election last year 1,000 people have lost their jobs. Only three and a half hours ago I was informed that 1,000 workers in a small town in my constituency are to be put on a three-day week from next week. That will have a destructive effect upon the economy of that town that is hard to portray in this Chamber.
      The response of the Government, although they have been fully aware of
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      these problems developing in my constituency, has been predictable in the light of the statements that were made—or not made—during the general election last year. The Government redrew the assisted areas map in my county, demoting much of my constituency from a special development area to a development area, and parts of it from intermediate to zero status. They reduced the level of grant aid from 22 per cent. to 15 per cent., giving other parts of the Northern region a cutting edge on other parts of the country in the allocation of jobs. The cut led to a reduction in grant of £4 million to one company that is now going through a major investment programme. They reduced the role of the National Enterprise Board, which will inevitably affect every company in every regional assisted area where there is a problem of attracting jobs. They halved the Manpower Services Commission budget, which had a direct effect on job creation programmes and available subsidies. The Opposition strongly object to those parts of the regional policy.
      The Government rejected, as did the former Administration, the application for a northern development agency to be set up so that we could effectively compete with the Scottish Development Agency in the powerful way that it is able to put its case across for the attraction of jobs. Even now, as the fight goes on for a northern development agency, they reject the voices of the Northern members of the TUC and CBI who believe that a northern development agency is crucial to the future of my area.
      The Government reversed the dispersal programme promoted by Lord Peart, when he was a Member of this House, who did so much for my constituency as its Member of Parliament. That reversal led to great consternation and bitterness. People saw the programme as a real opportunity to acquire the job opportunities that we in our area so desperately need.
      The Government phased out the Northern economic planning council, which was involved in the strategic planning of the future of the Northern region. Now they threaten the North of England development council. After a call for an inquiry into the operations of those bodies, rumours are now circulating that

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      the Government are about to reduce the amount of grant aid. In effect, what is the benefit of such bodies? They are essential for the promotion of industry in the North-East and North-West, with a view to attracting jobs. Over the last few months, we have had to fight off an attempt by the Government to end the future of the skillcentres, which are of such vital importance in my constituency. However, I feel that we may have broken through to the Government and sold the case for retaining these centres.
      Not only has Government's action been devastating in the regions, but the county authorities, by withdrawing their support for the North of England development council, have endangered the future industrial promotion efforts of the county. They have closed down the small firms employment services that were in my constituency some years ago. By so doing, they have cut into the regional infrastructure service route which is so important for the attraction of jobs. This inventory of effort and destruction is causing great consternation.
      I am sure that my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) would agree that a depression is descending not only over the industrial bases but in the minds of the people there. They have looked to central Government and begun to realise that the Government have lost the objective to support the highly important regions, The response of the county has been to send delegations to London. Last July, they came to see the Secretary of State for Industry about regional policy and dispersal, and they failed. Again, in October, they came to see Lord Trenchard, and again failed. They were unable to convince senior Ministers of the important need to protect the industrial base of West Cumbria and create conditions for new jobs.
      I appeal to the Government to think again. Even at this stage, dramatic changes could have an effect.
      In a debate before Christmas I raised the question of the possibility of the formation of a regional development bank. The bank would be able to lend to industry at variable rates of interest throughout the country, dependent on the rate of employment in given areas. Since
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      that speech, I have had a large mailbag on the subject and I believe that the idea has the support of much of British manufacturing industry. The industry understands the limitations imposed by the clearing banks on lending to manufacturing industry. I foresee that the new bank would lend not only on overdraft but similarly on the basis of discounted invoice values. That would help to rectify the cash flow problems of many companies. It would help them to expand and create jobs and employment opportunities. Some of the resources now expended under the Industry Act 1972 could be channelled into the funding at the bank. I shall always press for the formation of such a bank because I believe that it has an important part to play.
      I join my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven and other hon. Members—some Conservative—in expressing the view that there has been a bias towards capital-intensive projects over the years. There is evidence from the Northern region that, in the case of some firms receiving these considerable grants, the effect has been to modernize and then to cut the work force. There may well be a case for us to examine far more closely how we expend regional aid and funnel it into the regions. However, that is not an argument for cutting the level of regional aid. Much of the talk in the Chamber from Conservative Members is not on how to use aid but on how to cut it with a view to creating reductions in taxation from which only a few benefit.
      There are other areas where changes could be made. I should like to see a national debate on the role of small business in the economy. I should like to see grants funnelled into the local authorities for the splitting up of old industrial buildings into small units. That would help small businesses. I should like to see systems introduced to cover the problems of companies based in development areas with high freight costs. That is a real impediment to companies going into the regions. They have to pay aggressively high levels of freight charges. There is a strong case for looking at the question of national energy prices. The further north we go, the higher is the energy heat component cost in the cost of manufacturing. In the case of some industries, that must be

      821
      an important consideration to take into account before making the vital decision about where to go.
      The Government may choose to take no action and rely on the free market. Let me ask the Secretary of State and his colleagues, is it not fair to plan for a 2 per cent. reduction in output in the economy and accept the need for a 16 per cent. or 17 per cent. bank rate in a few weeks' time when the true rate of lending from the clearing banks is much higher? Is it fair for the Chief Secretary to talk in this place or make statements outside the House about the need for three years' austerity and then tell the regions to resolve their problems by way of an upturn in the economy? I cannot convince the 1,000 people who will be put on short time at Millers today, or the 1,000 people who have lost jobs over the last six months in my constituency, that an upturn in the economy will provide them with the job opportunities that they need so desperately.
      I turn to the role that I believe should be played by the local authorities, particularly in industrial promotion. Many counties have set up industrial development units to promote the interests of their sub-regions. My constituency is serviced by an industrial development unit based on the Conservative-controlled Cumbria county council. It is on a pigeon-sized budget and it cannot effectively sell the sub-region of West Cumbria. Despite our protests and requests for an increase in its budget, the necessary resources have not been provided for it to carry out a good selling operation for my constituency.
      A few weeks ago I suggested that we should consider doing what was done in 1935. An industrial development unit was set up then to promote West Cumbria exclusively. Over a period of 30 years it attracted much industry, backed up with grants made available by central Government. Of course, such things cost money. I put it to the Secretary of State for Industry and his fellow Ministers that there may well be a case, if regional aid is to be reduced, for money to be funnelled directly into the special development areas to prop up the sort of promotional team that is needed to sell the regions in various parts of the world where decisions about investment are made. In my part of West Cumbria, that
      822
      would involve a budget of between £60,000 and £100,000. That should be channelled directly from central Government into the area. It would not demand a particularly high level of public expenditure, but it would give every special development area a direct say in the promotional policy that affects its future.
      There is a belief that by unwinding regional policy—dismantling it to a certain extent—by minimising the level of public expenditure on regional support and by relying on the free market, the problems of the regions can be solved. Let me refer Conservative Members to comments made by representatives from two companies, one of which may be well known to the House, who, on hearing of the reduction in status as it affected West Cumbria, said that the outcome would be fewer jobs. If they had to raise the entire capital for expansion themselves, that would restrict the extent by which they would expand and slow down the rate of creation of now jobs. That was the comment of Ashley Accessories. Bowater Scott commented that the cuts certainly reduced the attractiveness of a town—this is near my constituency—in relation to other areas which it might be considering. That makes the point.
      I sincerely hope that this Government, understanding the particular problems of my sub-region, will make every effort to restore at least some level of regional aid and review the decision which was so wrongly taken last year and which is causing so many people such anxiety today.
      7.30 pm
      Mr. Allan Stewart (Renfrewshire, East): I followed with great interest the speech made by the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours). I should like to comment on one of the points that he made about the relative importance of industrial promotion. I hope that he will not mind if I do not comment on the bulk of his speech, because the last thing I claim to have is any expertise on the problems of the part of the country which he represents and about which he has told the House.
      However, I should like to comment on the speech of the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. Evans) on amendment No. 22, because that speech raised some points of considerable importance about the

      823
      transitional period. I do not think that there is ever a perfect answer to the problem of changing from one set of incentives to another, nor do I think that the Conservative Government got the answer right in 1970 when that Government changed the incentives. Certainly the most recent experience of a change in regional incentives was disastrous, when the previous Government slashed the regional employment premium without consultation, without notice and without phasing it out. Indeed, they effected it retrospectively, because nobody knew it had happened or what the timing was to be until a month after the decision. That was a disastrous example of how not to do it.
      I have no doubt that the Government will wish to move—any Government always want to move—to a new policy as quickly as possible. On the other hand, it is clearly unfair and quite wrong that any company such as that referred to by the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith), which has been absolutely committed to an investment decision, should then be forced to take what one might describe as a "windfall" loss where it has no option in the matter. It is those companies which we are talking about, not companies which are planning or thinking about an investment decision but companies which are actually committed to it.
      If I may say this to my hon. Friend the Minister of State, I hope that he will deal with this point at some length. I do not think that there is ever a perfect answer, but it is a very real problem whenever incentives are changed.
      If I may comment on the ongoing debate with my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne), my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen) and a number of hon. Members opposite on the relative success or otherwise of regional policy, the important point is that one has to compare what has happened with what would have happened if there had been no policy. That is the key comparison. I do not, however, agree with the objective of economic parity, identified by the hon. Member for Wrexham (Mr. Ellis). I think in a dynamic economy that is undesirable and un-
      824
      obtainable. But I should like to come back to his point about the branch factory economy and the danger of having too many branch factories. It is perfectly true that branch factories may be vulnerable, but I think the House should not push that point too far. Certainly in Scotland we recognise the major contribution that has been made to the Scottish economy by incoming manufacturing enterprises, especially American ones. They have not, in general, departed; the great bulk of the companies that came into Scotland in the 1950s are still there providing employment.
      The main point is that I do not think that some hon. Members who have spoken from the Labour Benches have quite grasped the essential point that we are now in a new economic situation against which a regional policy must operate. That is true not only of Britain but of other Western European countries. The point is that the mainspring—certainly the prerequisite—of an effective regional policy must be a buoyant national economy. With a buoyant national economy there is the "push" factor, that people want to invest, but they are up against the problem of inadequate physical capacity, so they want to move. There is the "pull" factor of labour surplus in room areas against tight markets in other areas. However, if there is not a buoyant national economy—that is the situation, and it will continue—a regional policy is much less likely to be effective. Regional incentives are like trying to push a piece of string: it is much more difficult to have an effective regional policy if the national economy is not buoyant.
      Therefore, it is very sensible of the Government to concentrate resources in particular parts of the country. Obviously, I greatly welcome the continuation of the high priority given to West Central Scotland, because the relative incentive between West Central Scotland and other parts of the country has clearly been increased as a result of the Government's measures.
      Hon. Members opposite have made the point repeatedly that the relative incentive is all very well, but in absolute terms the amount of money devoted to regional aid has fallen. That, of course, is true overall. However, the point has not been made by hon. Members to justify

      825
      a continuation of that total by concentrating the money on the areas which we now identify as priorities. The implication of what is being said by hon. Members opposite is that it would be economically justifiable to concentrate at least some, if not all, of the £230 million in West Central Scotland and the other priority areas. But I think that we have to face the fact that to increase the incentives to, say, 30 per cent. or so for regional development grants in West Central Scotland would not be cost-effective. I very much doubt whether any extra investment would actually reach West Central Scotland, for example, if the level of regional development grants were higher than they are at present.
      I think that there is a sense on both sides of the House that we ought to be feeling our way towards a new approach in regional policy. If I may refer to the points made by the hon. Member for Workington about inward investment and industrial promotion, this is inevitably bound to be less important in the future than it has been in the past, for the simple reason that I do not think there will be so many mobile manufacturing jobs as there were in the 1950s and the 1960s.
      If I may add one point on industrial promotion, in Scotland we suffer not from a lack of agencies and funds in this field but from an excess. We have the Scottish Development Agency, the Scottish Economic Planning Department, the Department of Industry, the Scottish Council of Development and Industry, the chambers of commerce, the local authorities at district and regional level and the new towns, all in the business of industrial promotion. We certainly need some rationalization.
      We must move towards a new phase in regional policy. We must recognise the realities of economies which are not buoyant and the limitation involved in the relatively few mobile manufacturing jobs which will be around in the 1980s. The new approach must concentrate on existing firms and industries. A hard fact of economic life is that the majority of new jobs are bound to come from companies, enterprises and individuals which already exist in our development and special development areas.
      Mr. George Park: In a debate on regional policies it is understandable that the words "the regions" should be used. However, when hon. Members use that phrase the West Midlands area does not figure. The West Midlands area is now experiencing the structural problems which are more often associated with other areas.
      In Committee I said that the regional policy of successive Governments was far too blunt and that it should be more selective. I have argued that there should be more accountability of the money invested so that it is not fritted away. Factories are sometimes equipped and then the firms move, leaving behind them a worse situation than existed before they were established in the area.
      In the last decade, fundamental changes have taken place in the West Midlands. There is increasing anxiety about future prospects. There has been a considerable decline in prosperity. There is no evidence that there will be significant economic growth. Employment in the West Midlands is dependent on the traditional metal-based industries. Those industries account for nearly half the male employment. That compares with a Great Britain figure of about 22 per cent. There is notable absence of new technology and of growth industries.
      In the seven years from 1959 to 1966 there was an average growth in employment in the West Midlands of about 23,000 jobs a year. That was the time when the area gained the reputation of being a Klondike. In the 10-year period 1966 to 1976, there was a consistent decline in the number of jobs available by about 23,500 a year. That decline was much greater than the growth in jobs in the previous 10 years. There has been an overall loss of about 75,000 jobs since 1959. We must add to that the recent redundancies at BL, Dunlop, Bilston, Alfred Herbert and several thousand more redundancies which are pending. The effect on male employment is severe. Male employment has declined by nearly 200,000—a loss of 20 out of every 100 male jobs available in 1966. Jobs in the metal-based industries have declined at an annual rate of 18,000 in the 10-year period 1966–76.
      The growth in the service industries in the West Midlands has been slower than

      827
      the national rate. It has not been sufficient to compensate for the decline in the manufacturing sector. The reduction in employment opportunities in Wolverhampton, Coventry and Birmingham is alarming. As a result of the concentration of the work force in manual occupations and the decline in manufacturing employment, there has been a rapid rise in unemployment.
      In the decade up to the mid-1960s, the unemployment rate in the West Midlands was about half the national rate. However, in recent years Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry have experienced unemployment rates which are higher than in areas which qualify for assistance under the Government's regional policy. The proportion of those who have been unemployed for more than a year is higher than the national average.
      7.45 pm
      The growth in unemployment is reflected in a decline in male earnings. Between 1974 and 1978, the earnings level-of male manual workers fell from the highest position in the metropolitan areas to one of the lowest. The level of investment in manufacturing industry fell from 12.9 per cent. of the Great Britain figure in 1963 to 9.8 per cent. in 1974. It continues to decline. That relatively low and declining share of industrial investment cannot be attributed simply to the region's industrial structure. Other factors have systematically caused investment in industries to be lower in the West Midlands than in the country as a whole.
      The poor investment record is reflected in the relative decline in the region's productivity. The region has benefited only slightly from the decentralisation of offices in the private and public sectors. Out of a total of 2,026 firms which moved from London between 1963 and 1977—involving 145,000 jobs—only 19 firms, involving 341 jobs, moved to the West Midlands. The West Midlands got three of the 24,000 Civil Service jobs which were relocated.
      The West Midlands is a major industrial centre, but only 20 of the 500 largest manufacturing companies have their headquarters in that county. Future prospects and projections of employment trends suggest that there is little prospect of any significant improvement in the
      828
      number of jobs available in the county up to 1990. Estimates of the future labour supply level indicate that the number of people looking for work in the county could increase by up to 54,000. There is every likelihood that the present high levels of unemployment will persist, with a shortage of jobs amounting to about 100,000—that is, if one is not too pessimistic.
      The major initiative for the regeneration of the local economy must come from local industry and commerce. However, central Government and local authorities have an important role in providing the economic and physical environment in which industry and commerce can prosper. The local authorities have done their best to make the area attractive to industry. We have built and refurbished small factory units. We have reclaimed derelict land. Because the area is not regarded as one which needs help, it receives only 50 per cent. towards the cost of the relamation of land when it should receive 100 per cent.
      We accept that an important role of local authorities is to provide industrial land of the right quality and in appropriate locations to ensure that a lack of land does not act as a restraint to industrial development. Equally, the local authorities in the West Midlands accept that they could assist in industrial and commercial expansion by ensuring that planning applications are dealt with speedily and sensibly.
      The role of central Government is critical. They have the opportunity, if they wish to take it, either to encourage or to constrain the development of the local economy. I do not share the sanguine hope, expressed by the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Patten), that there is to be a holding operation only, and that the Department will go into the matter more carefully and produce a more comprehensive and understandable policy with regard for the variations within an area.
      We are in the difficult position, and have been for some time, of trying to convince the House that there are structural difficulties in the West Midlands which regional policy must take on board. Regional policy should be devised to try to assist the West Midlands in the same way as it assists other areas. Because we are not regarded as an area in need of

      829
      assistance, we are constrained in other ways.
      Mr. Budgen Mr. Budgen rose—
      Mr. Park: I had hoped that the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen) would devote more of his time to the West Midlands instead of becoming involved in paternal aspects. I shall not give way to him.
      The hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) drew attention to the fact that if an area is not designated as an assisted area, it cannot be eligible for EEC grants. It is ruled out on all counts. An area is either in or out. The West Midlands is definitely out and has been for some time.
      Regional policy is essential, but, as I said earlier, I should like it to be more selective and monitored more closely. Money should be invested in a way which will yield the best return in jobs. In that way, we shall get away from the scourge of unemployment that has hit throughout the length and breadth of the land.
      Mr. Hardy: I shall be brief. I am extremely sorry to have to speak on this subject. The issues to which I wish to refer should have been resolved months ago. If they had been resolved, my speech would be quite unnecessary. There should be a flexible attitude to regional aid. No particular system should be sacrosanct. However, there should be far greater flexibility than that shown by the Government.
      I wish to speak on two matters. I touched on one of them in an earlier intervention, namely, derelict land. In South Yorkshire there are first-class people with a splendid record in reclaiming derelict land. Unfortunately, there is appalling uncertainty about the matter. The Government have had time to deal with it because I pointed out the need to take action when the Secretary of State made his announcement last summer. Sufficient time has elapsed for those areas with derelict land and colliery spoil heaps to have received an assurance of a firm policy.
      I took a deputation to see the Under-Secretary of State in August We were courteously received, but no firm response has been forthcoming. Local authorities, industries such as the National
      830
      Coal Board and Members of Parliament for relevant areas are entitled to a rather more expeditious and positive response than that which has so far been received. I hope that the Minister will comment on the matter when he replies. The County council and the NCB in my area are entitled to know exactly what they are to do.
      I shall speak briefly on the other issue that If wish to raise. There are 150,000 men, women and children in my constituency, and I doubt whether one of them would defend the Government's arrangements on assisted area status. In that one constituency there are now three different sorts of assisted areas. Part of my constituency lies in the Rotterdam area, which the Government in their generosity have raised to development area status. Rotherham has about a 7 per cent. unemployment rate. It was decided that the Maltby area would remain an intermediate development area. That area's unemployment rate is about 9 per cent. The employment rate is rising so fast in South Yorkshire that I am hesitant about putting a figure forward.
      In the southern half of my constituency, all assistance is to be taken away. Yet it contains, in the south-east, the Dinnington employment exchange area, where the unemployment rate is about 12 per cent. Greater help is to be given to the part of my constituency that has the lowest level of unemployment and all help is to be taken away from the areas where unemployment is at the highest level. That is quite absurd.
      The Government acknowledged that there was a need for improved capacity in Rotherham, and they conferred a greater degree of attraction upon Rotherham. It is ridiculous that the surrounding areas should have had their capacity and attraction reduced, not least because Rotherham lacks sites for industrial development.
      If unemployment is to be cured, industrial estates such as North Anston, Wales wood and Hellaby must be developed. Yet they are all—one by only 50 yards—outside the area where the extension of advantage has been arranged.
      The Government's position is one of idiocy. I do not use the word lightly. Not one person in the whole of my constituency, young or old, Left or Right,

      831
      Trotskyist or Fascist, will have any respect at all for the arrangements that have been made.
      I have put the case by letter—from councils, industrialists and trade unions—and by representations from the whole community. I have put the case courteously by letter and by deputation. Yet we have not seen the slightest evidence that the Government would be prepared to consider the mattersensibly. We have received a courteous response from the Under-Secretary of State. That appears to be the main purpose of Under-Secretaries. However, South Yorkshire men are not impressed by courteous response. They expect logical conduct, and we have not had that.
      That is why I felt that it was essential to intervene in the debate. I hope that we shall see greater evidence of good sense and flexibility from the Department of Industry today than it has shown since last July.
      8 pm
      Mr. Alexander Fletcher: Thehon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Hardy) has put his case courteously, reasonably and correctly. He will not be surprised to learn that I cannot respond immediately, especially as he has told the House that he spent some time putting his case to my righthon. and hon. Friends. I am not trying to dismiss his argument lightly. I shall speak to my right hon. and hon. Friends to see whether we can satisfy him any further, at least as to the logic and thinking behind what he considers to be a most illogical solution.
      This has been an important debate. It has come at the right time for regional policy, as the measures that were announced in July 1979 have been in force for some months. We have been able to see not only the advantages of the measures but some of the difficulties and problems. A change of policy of this sort was bound to happen.
      The hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) set the tone for the debate. Even though one or two of my hon. Friends may disagree, I agree with the hon. Gentleman's reference to a common thread between the two main parties on the broad area of regional policy.
      The hon. Gentleman acknowledged also that the first requirement of a suc-
      832
      cessful regional policy, or any other policy, must be a strong economy. We readily agree with that. He referred also to the need for stability on economic policy. I welcome that acknowledgment of common ground between the parties, because I believe that one of the greatest problems which the United Kingdom faces, and which is often referred to as the British disease, is that there is so much disagreement on critical, important issues.
      Apparently, with regard to the management of the economy, there is a gigantic gap between the two parties. That is what distinguishes the United Kingdom from almost all, if not all, of our major competitors in Europe and elsewhere. It is the passion in which we indulge in bringing about an economic revolution immediately following each general election. No other country that I can think of—Germany, France, United States or Japan—indulges in that exercise. That is probably the major reason why our economic performance generally and our international competitiveness are at such a low ebb.
      Therefore, let me take advantage of the degree of common ground which apparently exists—and which I am happy to believe does exist—on regional policy. Although my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry altered the boundaries of the assisted areas in July last year and adjusted the rates of grant, the broad arrangements for regional policy remain as they have been for a number of years. The importance of my right hon. Friend's changes was the change of emphasis, which was clearly aimed at highlighting and distinguishing the most economically depressed parts of the United Kingdom and at concentrating aid in those areas.
      The Government took over the economy when it was in a serious condition, but in accepting the resources available to us to help even the worst parts of the United Kingdom we also had to accept that those resources would be severely limited. A regional policy means giving aid where it is most needed, and that is the whole direction of the changes in regional policy that were introduced.
      My right hon. Friend did not behave as Labour Ministers did. As I have said, it is not my purpose to be contentious. However, I must point out that

      833
      previous Labour Ministers from time to time enlarged assisted areas but never reduced them. Therefore, their enlargement nullified the overall effect of regional policy.
      Mr. Gregor MacKenzie: That is not true.
      Mr. Fletcher: The right hon. Gentleman says "That is not true", but I cannot imagine any significant reduction in the number of development areas during the period of the previous Government.
      Mr. MacKenzie: Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will consult his hon. Friends who represent constituencies in Aberdeenshire, because in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan) we reduced it to intermediate status. There were many complaints from hon. Members representing that part of the world. We judged that to be right because of the prosperity that had come to Aberdeenshire as a result of the North Sea oil. Therefore, we made what we regarded as an important change, and the hon. Gentleman had better talk to his hon. Friends from Aberdeenshire about it.
      Mr. Fletcher: With respect, that was hardly a courageous decision. Of course, it is one that we have followed through by removing intermediate status from Aberdeen, thus recognising the right hon. Gentleman's point that this is now a prosperous part of the United Kingdom, although within that prosperity there are difficulties and problems for indigenous industries due to the domination of the oil industry.
      I stick to my point that previous Labour industry Ministers found it easier to enlarge than to accept the difficult decisions of reducing areas and concentrating resources where they were most needed. It is easy to enlarge an area or to leave it alone, but, as the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Cunliffe) illustrated in his passionate speech—indeed, the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) spoke on similar lines—it is extremely difficult for a Secretary of State to tell an area "You are special. You will be given development area status." That is a hard decision to make.
      However, if one is to apply the principle of regional policy and if one is to
      834
      apply aid where it is most needed, those decisions must be made. I know that the Labour Party has refused to face up to such decisions, not only in regard to regional policy. Had it made the right decisions about the steel industry and about the closures that have been obvious for years, the problem would not be so great today as it clearly is. The same argument applies to shipbuilding and other parts of the public sector.
      The real criticism of the Labour Party's regional policy is one that applies to almost everything that it did when in office, namely, that it never considered the cost. The Labour Government never worked out the effect on the economy generally of their sometimes lavish distribution of regional aid. Yet, on any kind of cost-effective exercise, it is obvious today that the economy in the regions of the United Kingdom has not particularly benefited from that lavishness. What also distinguishes the policy of the previous Government is the fact that they made no effort to distinguish between projects that would go ahead anyway and ones that genuinely required Government assistance. That is a matter to which my hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern) referred.
      The hon. Member for Whitehaven eventually referred to amendment No. 22 concerning the time allowed for the transitional arrangements. The fact is that these are the best arrangements which either party in office has yet devised. As such, I commend them to the House. This is a difficult problem which we have had to face on a number of occasions, as have Labour Members. But the arrangements that have been introduced by my right hon. Friend have taken into account the difficulties that have been experienced previously, and we have tried to be as fair as possible to the many interests involved.
      The hon. Member for Newton (Mr. Evans) repeated the argument about the transitional arrangements that he made in Committee and also spoke about the effect of the steel strike on the changes in regional policy. The reason why we made these arrangements was to accommodate the unhappy events of that time. One cannot envisage what will happen in regional policy 12 months from now, and my right hon. Friend made allowance,

      835
      by giving the notice of 12 months, for the sort of difficulties that face us now.
      Mr. John Evans Mr. John Evans rose—
      Mr. Fletcher: I should like to continue, because I have more to say to the hon. Gentleman and it may be of some interest to him. The arrangements had to try to account for circumstances which could not be envisaged at the time. That is why the notive was given. As to the steel strike, there is no general evidence of a shortage of steel, and no reason to believe at the moment that a significant number of cases may be affected by the strike.
      The hon. Members for Newton and for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) and my hon. Friends the Members for Southampton, Test (Mr. Hill) and for Renfrewshire, East (Mr. Stewart) mentioned the problem for some companies which will arise from their not being able to complete projects which started before the changes were announced—that is, before the cutoff date of 1 August 1980. The Government have always recognised that the transitional arrangements cannot meet all difficulties and that inevitably there will be some hardships. In any kind of transition, that is bound to be the case. However, if, as a result of the changes in regional development grant, a long-term project which has been started before the changes loses some of the expected RDG, and if the project can readily be recognised as a project under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972, consideration will be given to providing selective financial assistance, subject, of course, to the normal criteria if the project is genuinely in jeopardy. We have done this in a number of cases, but the criteria are strict and the project must really be in jeopardy.
      Mr. John Evans: Naturally, we are grateful for the small crumb which the Minister has let fall from the Government's table. Does he not accept that what he has just read out is a recipe for strife and dispute which could conceivably continue for many years? Does he not accept that our amendment is quite clear and specific and that it would solve most of the problems? Does he not accept also that what he has just said will cause the same problems as
      836
      were created the last time we had a cutoff under a Labour Government?
      Mr. Fletcher: We spent some time discussing this point in Committee. I did my best then to explain to the hon. Gentleman the inadequacies of the amendment and the suggestions that he made. I can only repeat that the Government believe that the proposition we have made in the transitional arrangements and what I have now said are the best that can be done in what we accept can be difficult circumstances in some individual cases.
      My hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Crawley made an important point about industrial relations and motivation generally in our more difficult and older industries. He said that there were greater problems in these declining industries than in the newer industries. I suggest that this has more to do with the industry than its location. I may have misunderstood my hon. Friend, but I had the impression that he suggested there were greater problems in motivating and managing the work force in the North of England and Scotland, due to the number of declining industries, than may exist in the South of England. It is a distinction of industry rather than location within the United Kingdom.
      In the North of England, in Wales and in Scotland, electronics industries and others are operating as well as anywhere in the world. Work forces co-operate wholeheartedly with management, and managements themselves are doing a good job. We can compete in the making of wrist watches. Dundee can compete with Taiwan, South Korea or anywhere else in production times and quality, making computers and other electronic equipment. It is a problem essentially of the type of industry. Greenock has the newest electronics industries alongside old declining shipbuilding and engineering industries. The performance of the newest industries is as good as any in the world.
      My hon. Friend made some important comparisons between the United Kingdom and Ireland as places in which to invest and stressed that companies, not only from overseas but also from the United Kingdom have been attracted to Ireland by the promise of 10 years' tax relief on

      837
      corporation tax. I agree that this is a simple and easy incentive to understand. That in itself, perhaps, is clearly to the benefit of the Irish. I am not sure that it is altogether to the benefit of the companies that go there. It is not, however, for me to judge.
      As my hon. Friend said, few British companies pay the full rate of corporation tax. Companies that are investing and expanding enjoy the benefits of a differential rate. It is possible that we do not say enough about that. The tax may be too complicated to understand. It may therefore appear that we are at a disadvantage in ralation to Ireland and some other countries when international mobile projects are deciding where to invest.
      Mr. Hordern: As my hon. Friend knows probably better than I do, corporation tax is being reviewed. It is about time. It is a real jungle of a tax. There are so many exceptions to it—depreciation divisions, stock depreciation allowances and so on. One of the foremost revisions and improvements that needs to be made is the revision of corporation tax. A simple, straightforward corporation tax with a low rate would do much to clarify the situation and make industry's position much easier throughout the country. I still hold to the view, however, that it would be better still to have a differential rate between the regions and the other parts of the country.
      Mr. Fletcher: I think that the differential should be in accordance with the investment effort of the company. Apart from that slight qualification, I believe that the points my hon. Friend makes about corporation tax will be studied with interest not only by myself but, more importantly, by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
      I agree that we must try to simplify our package of incentives for investment both at home and abroad. One can go through various pages listing the varieties of incentives and a variety of offices handling those incentives. We are trying to put that right in Scotland through the offices of the Scottish Development Agency and the Scottish Office itself.
      My hon. Friend the Member for Oxford (Mr. Patten) was right to remind the House that there is more to regional policy than regional development grants
      838
      and selective financial assistance. The attraction of industry to the regions and to Scotland and Wales depends on more than cash handouts. That has been my experience over the years. It is my experience now that I am in Government and through talking to companies here and elsewhere. Almost the first requirement in deciding where to locate industry is political stability. That is why I hope that several terms of office of this Government will help to attract overseas investors.
      8.15 pm
      Other factors are the availability of skilled labour, the education system—schools and colleges—housing, communications, roads and transport. All these items are high on the list when most people are looking for a place to invest in the United Kingdom. This is a matter to which my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test referred. I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree wholeheartedly that the first requirement is to achieve economic growth and economic prosperity to enable us to afford the overall environmental improvements to attract industry to the United Kingdom.
      I should like to turn to the amendment spoken to by my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce Gardyne). He surprised me a little. He favoured the former regional employment premium on the basis that this would maintain employment in labour-intensive industries. He acknowledged that this was indiscriminate but did not appear worried about that.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I am in favour of it.
      Mr. Fletcher: My hon. Friend says he is in favour of it but he wished to restrict regional development grants to capital-intensive industries. That is the purpose of the amendment. I take his point about the sum. It is the principle we are talking about, whether it is £10,000 or £25,000. I am sure that my hon. Friend accepts that the last thing Britain needs is a subsidy that not only discourages technological change and change in work practices but actually encourages over manning. That was the handicap of the regional employment premium.
      I am sure my hon. Friend would also agree that wage rates, as distinct

      839
      from wage costs, are not a problem that contributes to our adverse international competitiveness. It is because of our inefficient use of labour that we talk about trying to subsidies wage costs. I was not able to follow my hon. Friend's argument. He may care to explain it in the Sunday Telegraph. I could not appreciate the point he made in this debate about regional employment premium.
      I felt that my hon. Friend skated lightly over the benefit to the balance of payments of capital-intensive projects and the competition from other countries in other locations for internationally mobile projects. My hon. Friend is right in saying that not all the projects in the United Kingdom could, or would, locate in other countries. I accept that point. I hope, however, that my hon. Friend will accept that it is difficult for the Government to distinguish one from the other and to know which one would locate in the United Kingdom, and only in the United Kingdom, and those which would go abroad. That is the first difficulty that the Government would face.
      If my hon. Friend is not persuaded on that point, I am sure that he will agree, knowing his willingness to consider economic problems in the broadest terms and not just in a particular piece of legislation, that the cost of constructing a petrochemical or similar complex in the United Kingdom is considerably more and the time taken far longer than in any other Western country. There are chemical companies, oil companies and others which at this very moment are contemplating the construction of refineries or petrochemical complexes in the United Kingdom, taking advantage of the natural resource from the North Sea. When they look at the cost and the time it takes to get a new complex into production, I am sure that they would much rather take a pipeline—if they were allowed to do so, which they are not—from the North Sea to some other part of Europe. They would then get their complex built in about half the time.
      If for no other reason, in the state of the construction industry in Britain at the moment there is a case for giving RDGs as some kind of compensation for the time it takes to construct buildings of this sort.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I confess that I am, frankly, appalled by my hon. Friend's argument. Perhaps I might raise a query with him concerning the first part of his argument. He says that it is very difficult for the Government to identify which projects are foot-loose and which are not. That is the beauty of the amendment. If the Government are satisfield that a project is foot-loose, their case can be argued in the House. By accepting the amendment, the Government would not be precluded from doing that. I agree with my hon. Friend in what he says about the worrying record of British handling of major construction projects, but does he really believe that we shall get improved performance on major construction sites by giving grants on this sort of scale, running into tens of millions of pounds? Surely, the opposite is the case.
      Mr. Fletcher: Not at all. If we are to persuade companies to build these complexes in the United Kingdom, they have to take into account the cost of building here compared with the cost of building in other countries. We may well lose the foot-loose ones anyway—apart from those which might change their minds about building in the United Kingdom when they look at the total cost and find that they are getting no benefit whatever from the Government's regional policy.
      As for distinguishing between what is foot-less and what is not, that is not a matter to be decided by coming to the House of Commons. It is a matter of deciding, in negotiation with the company, whether it will make its investment in the first place. [Interruption.] Is my hon. Friend suggesting that House of Commons permission should be sought on a case-by-case basis in regard to giving RDGs to certain types of capital-intensive industry?
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: Yes.
      Mr. Fletcher: I cannot agree with my hon. Friend on that point.
      Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I do not know whether my hon. Friend appreciates that all that is being suggested is exactly the procedure that operates under 8(8) of the Industry Act 1972—except when the Government are, shall we say, going behind the back of Parliament.
      Mr. Fletcher: I am aware of that point. My hon. Friend has tabled an amendment that is to be debated later this evening. The two arguments might run together then. Meanwhile, I feel that I should move on and reply—
      Mr. Budgen: Is my hon. Friend's general objective to try to ensure that the Executive have the widest discretion possible and as little interference as possible from the impudent House of Commons?
      Mr. Fletcher: My general objective is to encourage companies in the chemical and other industries to invest in the United Kingdom and not to be persuaded to go abroad, where they can build their chemical complexes much more cheaply and quickly than they can in Britain at the moment.
      I agreed with the admonition that the hon. Member for Rochdale gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford for suggesting that regional policy had failed. I am glad to hear the hon. Gentleman say that in Lancashire—as in Scotland—there are many examples of the success of regional policy. It has been with us a long time and there are examples all over the United Kingdom of the success of regional policy. But it is wrong to suggest that the changes that have been made in regional policy are in any way immoral or that the way in which transitional arrangements have been handled is in any way immoral. They comply properly with the legislation in the 1972 Act.
      A regional development grant is payable on individual assets in accordance with the rules, and these rules are laid down in the Act. There is no prior agreement between the Department and a company on the availability of grant. As with any statutory instrument, the law is always liable to change. This is something that any company should understand, or that its agents should understand, in dealing with a Government Department in regard to the 1972 Act or any aspects of that Act.
      Mr. Cyril Smith: My point about the changes being immoral was that a company could, before the Government announced their change of policy, decide to build a factory on the assumption that, if the factory cost £600,000, it would get
      842
      £150,000. There is a case of this sort in my constituency. Such a company would have made its decision because of the policy and the law at the time. Then, having placed a contract in the belief that it was entitled to a grant, it suddenly finds that there is a policy change and that it is not entitled to a grant. That is immoral because it is retrospective legislation. I still believe it to be immoral.
      Mr. Fletcher: Suppose that someone has returned to live in the United Kingdom, having left it because of the high rates of taxation, because of the benefits introduced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the June Budget last year. He cannot be surprised if, in a few years' time, under a Labour Government, penal rates of taxation are reintroduced. That cannot be called immoral. It happens to be the way in which tax changes of this kind take place.
      The hon. Member for Rochdale also mentioned the regional development fund of the EEC. The regulations of the fund will be reviewed before 1981, and we shall consider changes in regional policy when possible amendments are being discussed at that time.
      Mr. Cyril Smith: I am grateful for the information that it is to be considered, but may we have an assurance not merely that the Government will consider changes in regional policy but that they will press for a change in the EEC policy, which at the moment would exclude areas which do not have development maximum possible benefit from the EEC, grants? I was pressing the Government, within the Council of Ministers or the appropriate committee, to seek a change in EEC policy. I realise that they may not be able to pull it off, but may we have an assurance that they will try to get the change made?
      Mr. Fletcher: I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman heard the Prime Minister say today how hard she and her right hon. Friends argue in the Government and in Europe for the sorts of policies that we believe in. The Prime Minister has made clear that she is anxious that Britain should derive the maximum possible benefit from the EEC, and that clearly includes the regional fund.

      843
      My hon. Friend the Member for Renfrewshire, East made a very important point about branch factories. There is a criticism that they are often the first to go if there is any problem affecting the company concerned. I am sure he would agree with me that branch companies—multinationals—operating in the United Kingdom are at least as fair and responsible as indigenous companies. There is a myth, often floated by Labour Members, that the multinationals are inconsiderate in dealing with national Governments. We need to encourage them to invest in the United Kingdom. We also need more indigenous investment. It is not a question of either/or. We need both types of investment and we should work to encourage them.
      The Government require three elements for successful regional policy. The first is to concentrate most aid where the need is greatest. That does not mean that we must ignore the fact that self-help in the regions is the best guarantee for their economic revival. Secondly—and the Opposition need to be constantly reminded of this—regional policy costs money and the resources that we inherited are scarce. That means careful distribution of regional funds. Thirdly, there is no substitute for a strong British economy. Everything else, even regional policy, must take second place to that.
      On that basis, I ask my right hon. and hon. Friends to reject the amendment.
      8.30 pm
      Mr. George Robertson: During the debate it has become evident that alongside the Government's major proposals on regional policy there is a notable absence of the cloth-cap image that once figured so strongly in the Conservative Party's image-making, when it was developing or even inventing policies for the regions. However, it might be said that by putting in the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland the party believes that he is the 1980s version of Lord Hail-sham's cloth cap.
      On the other hand, perhaps for the first and only time, I stand shoulder to shoulder with the Under-Secretary in his response to the remarkable commentary by the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith). The hon. Member for Rochdale was speaking as the representative of the
      844
      federalist party in this Parliament—the Liberal Party—and he objected to the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland answering a debate on United Kingdom regional policy.
      Since I see from "Voucher's Parliamentary Companion" that the hon. Member for Rochdale is the Liberal Party spokesman on industry and employment in the United Kingdom, it really does come rich from him to complain that an hon. Member representing a Scottish constituency is responding to the debate.
      I agree with the Under-Secretary that, until this year, we have seen a consistent, and in some cases a strong, thread of regional policy promoted by all Governments since the war. That thread has continued and has had some success, though I dare say that there are those of us who would admit that sometimes that success has not been as great as we might have wished. However, that does not in any way mean that we must give up trying.
      That consistently strong policy for the regions came to an end last year on 17 July when the Secretary of State for Industry announced cuts in the budget for regional grants. I noticed in the debate that the hon. Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne), the former Member for South Angus, was keen to get on record the fact that he was not part of the consensus that led, in the 1970 Conservative Government, to the Industry Act 1972 and its interventionist powers.
      It is not wonder that the hon. Gentleman makes that point, because shortly after that he became a columnist for the Financial Times prior to coming down to the plush lands of Southern England to take up another safe seat.
      The hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen), who is the companion in ideology of the hon. Member for Knutsford, perversely described himself as a Manchester liberal. That probably means that if we take geographical descriptions and relate them to ideology, the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland represents, perhaps, the Edinburgh bourgeoisie. What do such criteria make the hon. Member for Knutsford? Going back to his previous constituency, the best description for him might be an Arbroath smokey. There was a a time when many of us in Scotland

      845
      watched the hon. Member for Knutsford and described him as a "funny money" man. Unfortunatel the joke has gone wrong, because the funny money men now dominate the Cabinet and the British Government's economic policy. The redemption of the funny money men has now come about.
      The broken thread of regional policy that resulted fro mthe announcement of last July was brought about not just by change in emphasis in regional policy but by an absolute change—an absolute cut in the amount available for the regions. There was an overall cut in the regional policy budget of £233 million. That was not a change in emphasis. That is the key to this debate.
      The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland and his Front Bench colleagues can go on to their heart's content about a change in emphasis and concentrating the aid where the aid is needed. That does not get over the fact that the total budget available for the encouragement of jobs in the regions of this country was cut by £233 million out of a total budget of £600 million.
      There is another consistency that should run through this Parliament—the fact that regional policy is not charity. Regional policy is not, as some Conservative Members seem to believe, some sort of welfare payment to the regions that can, if the public sector borrowing requirement so demands, be cut willy nilly. Regional policy, regional aid and the development of a strategy for the regions is part and parcel of building up the country's economy, of giving growth and assistance and making sure that the industrial base is secure for the future.
      In making his points about the commendable parts of this package, the Minister should recognise that regional policy is essential if growth is to be obtained. At last year's CBI conference Sir Campbell Fraser, who is the chairman of Dunlop Holdings and a senior member of the council of the CBI, went on record as saying specifically that he believed in regional policy. The Government should accept that some parts of the country need help in order to help themselves and will do so for some time to come. Regional aid should be available for a sufficient length of time to permit reasonable forward planning in areas
      846
      dominated by major declining industries which most require assistance. Sir Campbell also made the point that Conservative Members calmly and consistently ignore—namely, that while we are pulling back from a strong regional policy, other countries are actually increasing the amount of selective aid to their industries. Again, at the same conference, Sir Campbell Fraser said that the Government's attitude was to treat everyone as an adult. The German, Japanese and United State Government did so, too, but that did not prevent them from providing assistance to their industries. He pointed out that they provided aid of a sophisticated, sensible and subtle kind, in a way that reflected the needs of the latter part of the twentieth century.
      Industry recognises that our international competitors are giving aid and that their industries are benefiting from strong regional policies. When will this Government realise it also?
      When we talk about structural imbalances in the country and the need for regional policy, we are talking about jobs. When we talk about jobs, we talk about people. When we talk about unemployment, we talk about people who are out of work and the consequences of that for their families and the areas in which they live. The real commentary on the Government's policy since July last year and on the so-called success of the policy that the Minister elaborated is the unemployment statistics and the fact that last month there were 1,470,620 people unemployed in this country. That was an increase of 115,000 in only one month. That is the commentary on eight months' Conservative Government. That is the condemnation of this Government and their total lack of regional policy.
      I should like to refer briefly to the speech made by the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland in Committee. Speaking from the Dispatch Box this evening, he was more reticent in defending regional policy than he was in Committee. He said that if the Government felt that they could solve our industrial problems in the Midlands, Clydeside and in Wales simply through the vehicle of regional development grants, they would table such provisions tomorrow, because the return on their investment would be tremendous in economic and social terms.

      847
      That was the testimony of the Minister. When he was going to do that? There are over 200,000 people unemployed in Scotland. When will he start increasing grants instead of reducing them? Will the level reach 250,000, 400,000 or half a million before the Under-Secretary starts to believe in the one policy that will help to create jobs?
      The Minister was not only negative in Committee. He said that he believed that there was one aspect of regional policy that had worked. He said that the one item of regional policy that had drawn the greatest benefit—something that did not cost the Exchequer a penny—was the industrial development certificate. He said said that at a time when the imbalance was so clear between, say, the Midlands and the North-East, IDCs were used effectively by both parties. What are the Government doing with IDCs? They have increased the limit from 15,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet and they have made it impossible for practically anyone to avoid IDCs.
      Mr. Alexander Fletcher: That is very interesting. But the hon. Gentleman, in his enthusiasm, must bear in mind that the result of five years' Labour Government is that there are no more prosperous areas left on which to inflict IDCs and that it is difficult to draw industry from
      those areas to the rest of the United Kingdom.
      Mr. Robertson: The hon. Gentleman's intervention is incredible. It follows a 26-minute speech by him in which he said that there was a need to concentrate available aid into the areas that are most in need. If he is now saying that all areas have an equality of depression and that the consequence must be that we reduce aid to all regions, let him say so. People in the regions recognise that the Government are abandoning them in the futile belief that free market forces will produce results.
      Many Conservative Members would like to believe that they are participating in an exercise that will strengthen the regions, the economy. They are living in cloud-cuckoo-land if they believe that. The Government areinvolved in this and in so many other exercises which will lead to the destruction of employment and the destruction of hope while they wait expectantly for inflation to drop, for investment to increase and for jobs simply to proliferate. At the same time, they are destroying the industrial base that is necessary for a real future. I commend the amendment to the House.
      Question put, That the amendment be made: —
      The House divided: Ayes 239, Noes 289.

      Division No. 161]

      AYES

      [8.45 pm

      Abse, Leo

      Cohen, Stanley

      Eadie, Alex

      Adams, Allen

      Coleman, Donald

      Eastham, Ken

      Allaun, Frank

      Concannon, Rt Hon J. D.

      Edwards, Robert (Wolv SE)

      Anderson, Donald

      Cook, Robin F.

      Ellis, Raymond (NE Derbyshire)

      Archer, Rt Hon Peter

      Cowans, Harry

      Ellis, Tom (Wrexham)

      Armstrong, Rt Hon Ernest

      Cox, Tom (Wandsworth, Tooting)

      English, Michael

      Ashley, Rt Hon Jack

      Craigen, J. M. (Glasgow, Maryhill)

      Evans, Ioan (Aberdare)

      Barnett, Guy (Greenwich)

      Crowther, J. S.

      Evans, John (Newton)

      Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (Heywood)

      Cryer, Bob

      Ewing, Harry

      Beith, A. J.

      Cunliffe, Lawrence

      Field, Frank

      Bennett, Andrew (Stockport N)

      Cunningham, George (Islington S)

      Fitch, Alan

      Bidwell, Sydney

      Cunningham, Dr John (Whitehaven)

      Fitt, Gerard

      Booth, Rt Hon Albert

      Dalyell, Tam

      Flannery, Martin

      Boothroyd, Miss Betty

      Davidson, Arthur

      Fletcher, Ted (Darlington)

      Bottomley, Rt Hon Arthur (M'brough)

      Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli)

      Foot, Rt Hon Michael

      Bradley, Tom

      Davies, Ifor (Gower)

      Ford, Ben

      Bray, Dr Jeremy

      Davis, Clinton (Hackney Central)

      Forrester, John

      Brown, Hugh D. (Provan)

      Davis, Terry (B'rm'ham, Stechford)

      Foster, Derek

      Brown, Robert C. (Newcastle W)

      Deakins, Eric

      Foulkes, George

      Brown, Ronald W. (Hackney S)

      Dempsey, James

      Fraser, John (Lambeth, Norwood)

      Brown, Ron (Edinburgh, Leith)

      Dewar, Donald

      Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald

      Buchan, Norman

      Dixon, Donald

      Freud, Clement

      Callaghan, Rt Hon J. (Cardiff SE)

      Dobson, Frank

      Garrett, John (Norwich S)

      Callaghan, Jim (Middleton & P)

      Dormand, Jack

      Garrett, W. E. (Wallsend)

      Campbell, Ian

      Douglas, Dick

      Ginsburg, David

      Campbell-Savours, Dale

      Douglas-Mann, Bruce

      Golding, John

      Canavan, Dennis

      Dubs, Alfred

      Gourlay, Harry

      Carmichael, Neil

      Duffy, A. E. P.

      Grant, George (Morpeth)

      Carter-Jones, Lewis

      Dunn, James A. (Liverpool, Kirkdale)

      Grant, John (Islington C)

      Clark, Dr David (South Shields)

      Dunnett, Jack

      Grimond, Rt Hon J.

      Cocks, Rt Hon Michael (Bristol S)

      Dunwoody, Mrs. Gwyneth

      Hamilton, W. W. (Central Fife)

      Hardy, Peter

      McNally, Thomas

      Sheerman, Barry

      Harrison, Rt Hon Walter

      McNamara, Kevin

      Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert (A'ton-u-L)

      Hart, Rt Hon Dame Judith

      McWilliam, John

      Shore, Rt Hon Peter (Step and Pop)

      Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy

      Magee, Bryan

      Short, Mrs. Renée

      Haynes, Frank

      Marks, Kenneth

      Silkin, Rt Hon John (Deptford)

      Healey, Rt Hon Denis

      Marshall, David (Gl'sgowm,Shettles'n)

      Silkin, Rt Hon S. C. (Dulwich)

      Heffer, Eric S.

      Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole)

      Silverman, Julius

      Hogg, Norman (E Dunbartonshire)

      Marshall, Jim (Leicester South)

      Smith, Cyril (Rochdale)

      Holland, Stuart (L'beth, Vauxhall)

      Martin, Michael (Gl'gow, Springb'rn)

      Smith, Rt Hon J. (North Lanarkshire)

      Home Robertson, John

      Mason, Rt Hon Roy

      Snape, Peter

      Homewood, William

      Maxton, John

      Soley, Clive

      Hooley, Frank

      Maynard, Miss Joan

      Spearing, Nigel

      Horam, John

      Mikardo, Ian

      Spriggs, Leslie

      Howell, Rt Hon Denis (B'ham, Sm H)

      Millan, Rt Hon Bruce

      Stallard, A. W.

      Howells, Geraint

      Morris, Rt Hon Alfred (Wythenshawe)

      Steel, Rt Hon David

      Huckfield, Les

      Morris, Rt Hon Charles (Openshaw)

      Stewart,Rt Hon Donald (W Isles)

      Hudson Davies, Gwilym Ednyfed

      Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon)

      Stoddart, David

      Hughes, Mark (Durham)

      Moyle, Rt Hon Roland

      Stott, Roger

      Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen North)

      Mulley, Rt Hon Frederick

      Strang, Gavin

      Hughes, Roy (Newport)

      Newens, Stanley

      Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton West)

      Janner, Hon Greville

      Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon

      Thomas, Dafydd (Merioneth)

      Jay, Rt Hon Douglas

      Ogden, Eric

      Thomas, Jeffrey (Abertillery)

      John, Brynmor

      O'Halloran, Michael

      Thomas, Mike (Newcastle East)

      Johnson, Walter (Derby South)

      O'Neill, Martin

      Thomas, Dr Roger (Carmarthen)

      Johnston, Russell (Inverness)

      Orme, Rt Hon Stanley

      Thorne, Stan (Preston South)

      Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rhondda)

      Owen, Rt Hon Dr David

      Tinn, James

      Jones, Barry (East Flint)

      Paisley, Rev Ian

      Torney, Tom

      Jones, Dan (Burnley)

      Palmer, Arthur

      Varley, Rt Hon Eric G.

      Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald

      Park, George

      Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley)

      Kerr, Russell

      Parker, John

      Walker, Rt Hon Harold (Doncaster)

      Kilfedder, James A.

      Parry, Robert

      Watkins, David

      Kinnock, Neil

      Penhaligon, David

      Weetch, Ken

      Lambie, David

      Powell, Raymond (Ogmore)

      Welsh, Michael

      Lamborn, Harry

      Prescott, John

      White, Frank R. (Bury & Radcliffe)

      Lamond, James

      Price, Christopher (Lewisham West)

      White, James (Glasgow, Pollock)

      Leadbitter, Ted

      Race, Reg

      Whitlock, William

      Leighton, Ronald

      Rees, Rt Hon Merlyn (Leeds South)

      Willey, Rt Hon Frederick

      Lestor, Miss Joan (Eton & Slough)

      Richardson, Jo

      Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Swansea W)

      Litherland, Robert

      Roberts, Allan (Bootle)

      Wilson, Gordon (Dundee East)

      Lofthouse, Geoffrey

      Roberts, Ernest (Hackney North)

      Wilson, Rt Hon Sir Harold (Huyton)

      Lyons, Edward (Bradford West)

      Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock)

      Wilson, William (Coventry SE)

      McCartney, Hugh

      Robertson, George

      Winnick, David

      McDonald, Dr Oonagh

      Robinson, Peter (Belfast East)

      Woodall, Alec

      McElhone, Frank

      Rooker, J. W.

      Woolmer, Kenneth

      McGuire, Michael (Ince)

      Ross, Ernest (Dundee West)

      Wrigglesworth, Ian

      McKelvey, William

      Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight)

      Wright, Sheila

      MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor

      Rowlands, Ted

      Maclennan, Robert

      Ryman, John

      TELLERS FOR THE AYES:

      McMahon, Andrew

      Sandelson, Neville

      Mr. James Hamilton and Mr. George Morton.

      McMillan, Tom (Glasgow, Central)

      Sever, John

      NOES

      Adley, Robert

      Brotherton, Michael

      Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James

      Aitken, Jonathan

      Brown, Michael (Brigg & Sc'thorpe)

      Dover, Denshore

      Alexander, Richard

      Browne, John (Winchester)

      du Cann, Rt Hon Edward

      Ancram, Michael

      Bruce-Gardyne, John

      Dunn, Robert (Dartford)

      Arnold, Tom

      Bryan, Sir Paul

      Durant, Tony

      Aspinwall, Jack

      Buchanan-Smith, Hon Alick

      Eden, Rt Hon Sir John

      Atkins, Rt Hon H. (Spelthorne)

      Buck, Antony

      Edwards, Rt Hon N. (Pembroke)

      Atkins, Robert (Preston North)

      Budgen, Nick

      Eggar, Timothy

      Atkinson, David (B'mouth, East)

      Bulmer, Esmond

      Elliott, Sir William

      Baker, Kenneth (St. Marylebone)

      Burden, F. A.

      Emery, Peter

      Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset)

      Butcher, John

      Eyre, Reginald

      Beaumont-Dark, Anthony

      Butler, Hon Adam

      Fairbairn, Nicholas

      Bell, Sir Ronald

      Cadbury, Jocelyn

      Fairgrieve, Russell

      Bendall, Vivian

      Carlisle, John (Luton West)

      Faith, Mrs Sheila

      Benyon, Thomas (Abingdon)

      Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln)

      Farr, John

      Benyon, W. (Buckingham)

      Chalker, Mrs. Lynda

      Fell, Anthony

      Best, Keith

      Channon, Paul

      Fenner, Mrs Peggy

      Bevan, David Gilroy

      Chapman, Sydney

      Finsberg, Geoffrey

      Biffen, Rt Hon John

      Clark, Hon Alan (Plymouth, Sutton)

      Fisher, Sir Nigel

      Biggs-Davison, John

      Clark, Sir William (Croydon South)

      Fletcher, Alexander (Edinburgh N)

      Blackburn, John

      Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe)

      Fletcher-Cooke, Charles

      Body, Richard

      Cockeram, Eric

      Fookes, Miss Janet

      Bonsor, Sir Nicholas

      Colvin, Michael

      Forman, Nigel

      Boscawen, Hon Robert

      Cope, John

      Fowler, Rt Hon Norman

      Bottomley, Peter (Woolwich West)

      Corrie, John

      Fox, Marcus

      Bowden, Andrew

      Costain, A. P.

      Fraser, Peter (South Angus)

      Boyson, Dr Rhodes

      Cranborne, Viscount

      Fry, Peter

      Braine, Sir Bernard

      Critchley, Julian

      Galbraith, Hon T. G. D.

      Bright, Graham

      Crouch, David

      Gardiner George (Reigate)

      Brinton, Tim

      Dean, Paul (North Somerset)

      Gardner, Edward (South Fylde)

      Brittan, Leon

      Dickens, Geoffrey

      Garel-Jones, Tristan

      Brocklebank-Fowler, Christopher

      Dorrell, Stephen

      Glyn, Dr Alan

      850

      851

      Goodhart, Philip

      Major, John

      Shaw, Giles (Pudsey)

      Gorst, John

      Marland, Paul

      Shaw, Michael (Scarborough)

      Gow, Ian

      Marlow, Antony

      Shelton, William (Streatham)

      Gower, Sir Raymond

      Marshall, Michael (Arundel)

      Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)

      Greenway, Harry

      Marten, Neil (Banbury)

      Shepherd, Richard(Aldridge-Br'hills)

      Grieve, Percy

      Mather, Carol

      Shersby, Michael

      Griffiths, Eldon (Bury St Edmunds)

      Maude, Rt Hon Angus

      Silvester, Fred

      Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N)

      Mawby, Ray

      Sims, Roger

      Grist, Ian

      Mawhinney, Dr Brian

      Skeet, T. H. H.

      Grylls, Michael

      Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin

      Speller, Tony

      Gummer, John Selwyn

      Mayhew, Patrick

      Spence, John

      Hamilton, Hon Archie (Eps'm&Ew'll)

      Mellor, David

      Spicer, Jim (West Dorset)

      Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury)

      Meyer, Sir Anthony

      Spicer, Michael (S Worcestershire)

      Hampson, Dr Keith

      Miller, Hal (Bromsgrove & Redditch)

      Sproat, Iain

      Hannam, John

      Mills, Iain (Meriden)

      Squire, Robin

      Haselhurst, Alan

      Mills, Peter (West Devon)

      Stainton, Keith

      Hastings, Stephen

      Miscampbell, Norman

      Stanbrook, Ivor

      Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael

      Mitchell, David (Basingstoke)

      Stanley, John

      Hawksley, Warren

      Moate, Roger

      Steen, Anthony

      Heddle, John

      Molyneaux, James

      Stevens, Martin

      Henderson, Barry

      Monro, Hector

      Stewart, John (East Renfrewshire)

      Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael

      Montgomery, Fergus

      Stokes, John

      Hicks, Robert

      Moore, John

      Stradling Thomas, J.

      Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L.

      Morgan, Geraint

      Tapsell, Peter

      Hill, James

      Morris, Michael (Northampton, Sth)

      Taylor, Robert (Croydon NW)

      Hogg, Hon Douglas (Grantham)

      Morrison, Hon Charles (Devizes)

      Tebbit, Norman

      Holland, Philip (Carlton)

      Morrison, Hon Peter (City of Chester)

      Temple-Morris, Peter

      Hooson, Tom

      Mudd, David

      Thatcher, Rt Hon Mrs Margaret

      Hordern, Peter

      Murphy, Christopher

      Thomas, Rt Hon Peter (Hendon S)

      Howell, Rt Hon David (Guildford)

      Myles, David

      Thompson, Donald

      Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk)

      Neale, Gerrard

      Thornton, George

      Hunt, David (Wirral)

      Needham, Richard

      Townend, John (Bridlington)

      Hunt, John (Ravensbourne)

      Nelson, Anthony

      Townsend, Cyril D. (Bexleyheath)

      Hurd, Hon Douglas

      Neubert, Michael

      Trippier, David

      Irving, Charles (Cheltenham)

      Newton, Tony

      Trotter, Neville

      Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick

      Normanton, Tom

      Vaughan, Dr Gerard

      Jessel, Toby

      Osborn, John

      Viggers, Peter

      Johnson Smith, Geoffrey

      Page, John (Harrow, West)

      Waddington, David

      Jopling, Rt Hon Michael

      Page, Rt Hon Sir R. Graham

      Wakeham, John

      Joseph, Rt Hon Sir Keith

      Page, Richard (SW Hertfordshire)

      Waldegrave, Hon William

      Kaberry, Sir Donald

      Parris, Matthew

      Walker, Rt Hon Peter (Worcester)

      Kellett-Bowman, Mrs Elaine

      Patten, Christopher (Bath)

      Walker, Bill (Perth & E Perthshire)

      Kershaw, Anthony

      Patten, John (Oxford)

      Walker-Smith, Rt Hon Sir Derek

      Kimball, Marcus

      Pawsey, James

      Wall, Patrick

      King, Rt Hon Tom

      Percival, Sir Ian

      Waller, Gary

      Knight, Mrs Jill

      Peyton, Rt Hon John

      Walters, Dennis

      Knox, David

      Pink, R. Bonner

      Ward, John

      Lang, Ian

      Pollock, Alexander

      Warren, Kenneth

      Latham, Michael

      Porter, George

      Watson, John

      Lawson, Nigel

      Prentice, Rt Hon Reg

      Wells, John (Maidstone)

      Lee, John

      Price, David (Eastleigh)

      Wells, Bowen (Hert'rd & Stev'nage)

      Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark

      Proctor, K. Harvey

      Wheeler, John

      Lester, Jim (Beeston)

      Pym, Rt Hon Francis

      Whitelaw, Rt Hon William

      Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland)

      Raison, Timothy

      Whitney, Raymond

      Lloyd, Ian (Havant & Waterloo)

      Rathbone, Tim

      Wickenden, Keith

      Lloyd, Peter (Fareham)

      Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal)

      Wiggin, Jerry

      Loveridge, John

      Rees-Davies, W. R.

      Williams, Delwyn (Montgomery)

      Luce, Richard

      Renton, Tim

      Winterton, Nicholas

      Lyell, Nicholas

      Rhodes James, Robert

      Wolfson, Mark

      Macfarlane, Neil

      Ridley, Hon Nicholas

      Young, Sir George (Acton)

      MacGregor, John

      Rifkind, Malcolm

      Younger, Rt Hon George

      MacKay, John (Argyll)

      Roberts, Wyn (Conway)

      McNair-Wilson, Michael (Newbury)

      Rost, Peter

      TELLERS FOR THE NOES:

      McNair-Wilson, Patrick (New Forest)

      Royle, Sir Anthony

      Mr. Anthony Berry and Mr. Spencer Le Marchant.

      McQuarrie, Albert

      Sainsbury, Hon Timothy

      Madel, David

      Scott, Nicholas

      Question accordingly negatived.
      Amendment proposed: No. 22, in page 7, leave out line 41, and insert—
      '(i) Work on the asset is commenced before the passing of this Act and completed before 1 August 1981.'—[Mr. John Silkin.]
      Question put, That the amendment be made: —
      The House divided: Ayes 237, Noes 293.

      Division No. 162]

      AYES

      [8.59 pm

      Abse, Leo

      Barnett, Guy (Greenwich)

      Bottomley, Rt Hon Arthur (M'brough)

      Adams, Allen

      Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (Heywood)

      Bradley, Tom

      Allaun, Frank

      Beith, A. J.

      Bray, Dr Jeremy

      Anderson, Donald

      Bennett, Andrew (Stockport N)

      Brown, Hugh D. (Provan)

      Archer, Rt Hon Peter

      Bidwell, Sydney

      Brown, Robert C. (Newcastle W)

      Armstrong, Rt Hon Ernest

      Booth, Rt Hon Albert

      Brown, Ronald W. (Hackney S)

      Ashley, Rt Hon Jack

      Boothroyd, Miss Betty

      Brown, Ron (Edinburgh, Leith)

      Buchan, Norman

      Harrison, Rt Hon Walter

      Orme, Rt Hon Stanley

      Callaghan, Rt Hon J. (Cardiff SE)

      Hart, Rt Hon Dame Judith

      Owen, Rt Hon Dr David

      Callaghan, Jim (Middleton & P)

      Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy

      Palmer, Arthur

      Campbell, Ian

      Haynes, Frank

      Park, George

      Campbell-Savours, Dale

      Healey, Rt Hon Denis

      Parker,John

      Canavan, Dennis

      Heffer, Eric S.

      Parry, Robert

      Carmichael, Neil

      Hogg, Norman (E Dunbartonshire)

      Penhaligon, David

      Carter-Jones, Lewis

      Holland, Stuart (L'beth, Vauxhall)

      Powell, Raymond (Ogmore)

      Clark, Dr David (South Shields)

      Home Robertson, John

      Prescott, John

      Cocks, Rt Hon Michael (Bristol S)

      Homewood, William

      Price, Christopher (Lewisham West)

      Cohen, Stanley

      Hooley, Frank

      Race, Reg

      Coleman, Donald

      Horam, John

      Rees, Rt Hon Merlyn (Leeds South)

      Concannon, Rt Hon J. D.

      Howell, Rt Hon Denis (B'ham, Sm H)

      Richardson, Jo

      Cook, Robin F.

      Howells, Geraint

      Roberts, Allan (Bootle)

      Cowans, Harry

      Huckfield, Les

      Roberts, Ernest (Hackney North)

      Cox, Tom (Wandsworth, Tooting)

      Hudson Davies, Gwilym Ednyfed

      Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock)

      Craigen, J. M. (Glasgow, Maryhill)

      Hughes, Mark (Durham)

      Robertson, George

      Crowther, J. S.

      Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen North)

      Rooker, J. W.

      Cryer, Bob

      Hughes, Roy (Newport)

      Ross, Ernest (Dundee West)

      Cunliffe, Lawrence

      Janner, Hon Greville

      Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight)

      Cunningham, George (Islington S)

      Jay, Rt Hon Douglas

      Rowlands, Ted

      Cunningham, Dr John (Whitehaven)

      John, Brynmor

      Ryman, John

      Dalyell, Tam

      Johnson, Walter (Derby South)

      Sandelson, Neville

      Davidson, Arthur

      Johnston, Russell (Inverness)

      Sever, John

      Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli)

      Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rhondda)

      Sheerman, Barry

      Davies, Ifor (Gower)

      Jones, Barry (East Flint)

      Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert (A'ton-u-L)

      Davis, Clinton (Hackney Central)

      Jones, Dan (Burnley)

      Shore, Rt Hon Peter (Step and Pop)

      Davis, Terry (B'rm'ham, Stechtord)

      Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald

      Short, Mrs. Renée

      Deakins, Eric

      Kerr, Russell

      Silkin, Rt Hon John (Deptford)

      Dempsey, James

      Kilfedder, James A.

      Silkin, Rt Hon S. C. (Dulwich)

      Dewar, Donald

      Kinnock, Neil

      Sllverman, Julius

      Dixon, Donald

      Lambie, David

      Smith, Cyril (Rochdale)

      Dobson, Frank

      Lamborn, Harry

      Smith, Rt Hon J. (North Lanarkshire)

      Dormand, Jack

      Lamond, James

      Snape, Peter

      Douglas, Dick

      Leadbitter, Ted

      Soley, Clive

      Douglas-Mann, Bruce

      Letighton, Ronald

      Spearing, Nigel

      Dubs, Alfred

      Lestor, Miss Joan(Eton & Slough)

      Spriggs, Leslie

      Duffy, A. E. P.

      Litherland, Robert

      Stallard, A. W.

      Dunn, James A. (Liverpool, Kirkdale)

      Lofthouse, Geoffrey

      Steel, Rt Hon David

      Dunnett, Jack

      Lyons, Edward (Bradford West)

      Stewart, Rt Hon Donald (W Isles)

      Dunwoody, Mrs. Gwyneth

      McCartney, Hugh

      Stoddart, David

      Eadie, Alex

      McDonald, Dr Oonagh

      Stott, Roger

      Eastham, Ken

      McElhone, Frank

      Strang, Gavin

      Edwards, Robert (Wolv SE)

      McGuire, Michael (Ince)

      Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton West)

      Ellis, Raymond (NE Derbyshire)

      McKelvey, William

      Thomas, Dafydd (Merioneth)

      Ellis, Tom (Wrexham)

      MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor

      Thomas, Jeffrey (Abertillery)

      English, Michael

      Maclennan, Robert

      Thomas, Mike (Newcastle East)

      Evans, Ioan (Aberdare)

      McMahon, Andrew

      Thomas, Dr Roger (Carmarthen)

      Evans, John (Newton)

      McMillan, Tom (Glasgow, Central)

      Thome, Stan (Preston South)

      Ewing, Harry

      McNally, Thomas

      Torney, Tom

      Field, Frank

      McNamara, Kevin

      Varley, Rt Hon Eric G.

      Fitch, Alan

      McWilliam, John

      Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley)

      Fitt, Gerard

      Magee, Bryan

      Walker, Rt Hon Harold (Doncaster)

      Flannery, Martin

      Marks, Kenneth

      Watkins, David

      Fletcher, Ted (Darlington)

      Marshall, David (Gl'sgow, Shettles'n)

      Weetch, Ken

      Foot, Rt Hon Michael

      Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole)

      Welsh, Michael

      Ford, Ben

      Marshall, Jim (Leicester South)

      White, Frank R. (Bury & Radcliffe)

      Forrester, John

      Martin, Michael (Gl'gow, Springb'rn)

      White, James (Glasgow, Pollock)

      Foster, Derek

      Mason, Rt Hon Roy

      Whitlock, William

      Foulkes, George

      Maxton, John

      Willey, Rt Hon Frederick

      Fraser, John (Lambeth, Norwood)

      Maynard, Miss Joan

      Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Swansea W)

      Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald

      Mikardo, Ian

      Wilson, Gordon (Dundee East)

      Freud, Clement

      Millan, Rt Hon Bruce

      Wilson, Rt Hon Sir Harold (Huyton)

      Garrett, John (Norwich S)

      Morris, Rt Hon Alfred (Wythenshawe)

      Wilson, William (Coventry SE)

      Garrett, W. E. (Wallsend)

      Morris, Rt Hon Charles (Openshaw)

      Winnick, David

      Ginsburg, David

      Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon)

      Woodall, Alec

      Golding, John

      Moyle, Rt Hon Roland

      Woolmer, Kenneth

      Gourlay, Harry

      Mulley, Rt Hon Frederick

      Wrigglesworth, Ian

      Grant, George (Morpeth)

      Newens, Stanley

      Wright, Sheila

      Grant, John (Islington C)

      Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon

      Grimond, Rt Hon J.

      Ogden, Eric

      TELLERS FOR THE AYES:

      Hamilton, James (Bothwell)

      O'Halloran, Michael

      Mr. James Tinn and Mr. George Morton.

      Hamilton, W. W. (Central Fife)

      O'Neill, Martin

      Hardy, Peter

      NOES

      Adley, Robert

      Baker, Kenneth (St. Marylebone)

      Biffen, Rt Hon John

      Aitken, Jonathan

      Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset)

      Biggs-Davison, John

      Alexander, Richard

      Beaumont-Dark, Anthony

      Blackburn, John

      Ancram, Michael

      Bell, Sir Ronald

      Body, Richard

      Arnold, Tom

      Bendall, Vivian

      Bonsor Sir Nicholas

      Aspinwall, Jack

      Benyon, Thomas (Abingdon)

      Boscawen, Hon Robert

      Atkins, Rt Hon H. (Spelthorne)

      Benyon, W. (Buckingham)

      Bottomley, Peter (Woolwich West)

      Atkins, Robert (Preston North)

      Best, Keith

      Bowden, Andrew

      Atkinson, David (B'mouth, East)

      Bevan, David Gilroy

      Boyson, Dr Rhodes

      854

      855

      Bradford, Rev. R.

      Haselhurst, Alan

      Normanton, Tom

      Braine, Sir Bernard

      Hastings, Stephen

      Osborn, John

      Bright, Graham

      Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael

      Page, John (Harrow, West)

      Brinton, Tim

      Hawksley, Warren

      Page, Rt Hon Sir R. Graham

      Brittan, Leon

      Heddle, John

      Page, Richard (SW Hertfordshire)

      Brocklebank-Fowler, Chriatopher

      Henderson, Barry

      Paisley, Rev Ian

      Brotherton, Michael

      Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael

      Parris, Matthew

      Brown, Michael (Brigg & Sc'thorpe)

      Hicks, Robert

      Patten, Christopher (Bath)

      Browne, John (Winchester)

      Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L.

      Patten, John (Oxford)

      Bruce-Gardyne, John

      Hill, James

      Pawsey, James

      Bryan, Sir Paul

      Hogg, Hon Douglas (Grantham)

      Percival, Sir Ian

      Buchanan-Smith, Hon Alick

      Holland, Philip (Carlton)

      Peyton, Rt Hon John

      Buck, Antony

      Hooson, Tom

      Pink, R. Bonner

      Budgen, Nick

      Hordern, Peter

      Pollock, Alexander

      Bulmer, Esmond

      Howell, Rt Hon David (Guildford)

      Porter, George

      Burden, F. A.

      Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk)

      Prentice, Rt Hon Reg

      Butcher, John

      Hunt, David (Wirral)

      Price, David (Eastleigh)

      Butler, Hon Adam

      Hunt, John (Ravensbourne)

      Proctor, K. Harvey

      Cadbury, Jocelyn

      Hurd, Hon Douglas

      Pym, Rt Hon Francis

      Carlisle, John (Luton West)

      Irving, Charles (Cheltenham)

      Raison, Timothy

      Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln)

      Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick

      Rathbone, Tim

      Chalker, Mrs. Lynda

      Jessel, Toby

      Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal)

      Channon, Paul

      Johnson Smith, Geoffrey

      Rees-Davies, W. R.

      Chapman, Sydney

      Jopling, Rt Hon Michael

      Renton, Tim

      Clark, Hon Alan (Plymouth, Sutton)

      Joseph, Rt Hon Sir Keith

      Rhodes James, Robert

      Clark, Sir William (Croydon South)

      Kaberry, Sir Donald

      Ridley, Hon Nicholas

      Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffle)

      Kellett-Bowman, Mrs Elaine

      Rifkind, Malcolm

      Cockeram, Eric

      Kershaw, Anthony

      Roberts, Wyn (Conway)

      Colvin, Michael

      Kimball, Marcus

      Robinson, Peter (Belfast East)

      Cope,John

      King, Rt Hon Tom

      Rost, Peter

      Cormack, Patrick

      Knight, Mrs Jill

      Royle, Sir Anthony

      Corrie, John

      Knox, David

      Sainsbury, Hon Timothy

      Costain, A. P.

      Lang, Ian

      Scott, Nicholas

      Cranborne, Viscount

      Latham, Michael

      Shaw, Giles (Pudsey)

      Critchley, Julian

      Lawson, Nigel

      Shaw, Michael (Scarborough)

      Crouch, David

      Lee, John

      Shelton, William (Streatham)

      Dean, Paul (North Somerset)

      Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark

      Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)

      Dickens, Geoffrey

      Lester, Jim (Beeston)

      Shepherd, Richard(Aldridge-Br'hills)

      Dorrell, Stephen

      Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland)

      Shersby, Michael

      Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James

      Lloyd, Ian (Havant & Waterloo)

      Silvester, Fred

      Dover, Denshore

      Lloyd, Peter (Fareham)

      Sims, Roger

      du Cann, Rt Hon Edward

      Loveridge, John

      Skeet, T. H. H.

      Dunn, Robert (Dartford)

      Luce, Richard

      Speller, Tony

      Durant, Tony

      Lyell, Nicholas

      Spence, John

      Eden, Rt Hon Sir John

      Macfarlane, Neil

      Spicer, Jim (West Dorset)

      Edwards, Rt Hon N. (Pembroke)

      MacGregor, John

      Spicer, Michael (S Worcestershire)

      Eggar, Timothy

      MacKay, John (Argyll)

      Sproat, Iain

      Elliott, Sir William

      McNair-Wilson, Michael (Newbury)

      Squire, Robin

      Emery, Peter

      McNair-Wilson, Patrick (New Forest)

      Stainton, Keith

      Eyre, Reginald

      McQuarrie, Albert

      Stanbrook, Ivor

      Fairbairn, Nicholas

      Madel, David

      Stanley, John

      Fairgrieve, Russell

      Major, John

      Steen, Anthony

      Faith, Mrs Sheila

      Marland, Paul

      Stevens, Martin

      Farr, John

      Marlow, Antony

      Stewart, Ian (Hitchin)

      Fell, Anthony

      Marshall, Michael (Arundel)

      Stewart, John (East Renfrewshire)

      Fenner, Mrs Peggy

      Marten, Neil (Banbury)

      Stokes, John

      Finsberg, Geoffrey

      Mather, Carol

      Stradling Thomas, J.

      Fisher, Sir Nigel

      Maude, Rt Hon Angus

      Taylor, Robert (Croydon NW)

      Fletcher, Alexander (Edinburgh N)

      Mawby, Ray

      Tebbit, Norman

      Fletcher-Cooke, Charles

      Mawhinney, Dr Brian

      Temple-Morris, Peter

      Fookes, Miss Janet

      Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin

      Thatcher, Rt Hon Mrs Margaret

      Forman, Nigel

      Mayhew, Patrick

      Thomas, Rt Hon Peter (Hendon S)

      Fowler, Rt Hon Norman

      Mellor, David

      Thompson, Donald

      Fox, Marcus

      Meyer, Sir Anthony

      Thornton, Malcolm

      Fraser, Peter (South Angus)

      Miller, Hal (Bromsgrove & Redditch)

      Townsend, John (Bridlington)

      Fry, Peter

      Mills, Iain (Meriden)

      Townsend, Cyril D. (Bexleyheath)

      Galbraith, Hon T. G. D.

      Mills, Peter (West Devon)

      Trippier, David

      Gardiner, George (Reigate)

      Miscampbell, Norman

      Trotter, Neville

      Gardner, Edward (South Fylde)

      Mitchell, David (Basingstoke)

      Vaughan, Dr Gerard

      Garel-Jones, Tristan

      Moate, Roger

      Viggers, Peter

      Glyn, Dr Alan

      Molyneaux, James

      Waddington, David

      Goodhart, Philip

      Monro, Hector

      Wakeham, John

      Gorst, John

      Montgomery, Fergus

      Waldegrove, Hon William

      Gow, Ian

      Moore, John

      Walker, Rt Hon Peter (Worcester)

      Gower, Sir Raymond

      Morgan, Geraint

      Walker, Bill (Perth & E Perthshire)

      Greenway, Harry

      Morris, Michael (Northampton, Sth)

      Walker-Smith, Rt Hon Sir Derek

      Grieve, Percy

      Morrison, Hon Charles (Devizes)

      Wall, Patrick

      Griffiths, Eldon (Bury St Edmunds)

      Morrison, Hon Peter (City of Chester)

      Waller, Gary

      Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N)

      Mudd, David

      Walters, Dennis

      Grist, Ian

      Murphy, Christopher

      Ward, John

      Grylls, Michael

      Myles, David

      Warren, Kenneth

      Gummer, John Selwyn

      Neale, Gerrard

      Watson, John

      Hamilton, Hon Archie (Eps'm&Ew'll)

      Needham, Richard

      Wells, John (Maidstone)

      Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury)

      Nelson, Anthony

      Wells, Bowen (Hert'rd & Stev'nage)

      Hampson, Dr Keith

      Neubert, Michael

      Wheeler, John

      Hannam, John

      Newton, Tony

      Whitelaw, Rt Hon William

      856

      857

      Whitney, Raymond

      Winterton, Nicholas

      TELLERS FOR THE NOES:

      Wickenden, Keith

      Wolfson, Mark

      Mr. Spencer Le Marchant and Mr. Anthony Berry.

      Wiggin, Jerry

      Young, Sir George (Acton)

      Williams, Delwyn (Montgomery)

      Younger, Rt Hon George

      Question accordingly negatived.

    Clause 15

      PLANNING AGREEMENTS AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
      Mr. John Silkin: I beg to move amendment No. 25, in page 8, leave out lines 26 to 28.
      The effect of the amendment is to remove clause 15 from the Bill.
      Clause 15 repeals section 21 of the Industry Act 1975—the section that deals with planning agreements—and sections 28 to 34, which deal with the disclosure of information by companies, again under the Industry Act 1975, which is supportive of planning agreements.
      What we were told by the Minister was simple. I am glad to see him sitting opposite me as I propose to quote his words in a moment. He said that planning agreements were an unwarrantable imposition upon industry and that, therefore, they should go.
      The Minister of State, Department of Industry (Mr. Adam Butler): I wonder whether the Labour Administration persuaded industry to accept one or two planning agreements.
      Mr. Silkin: That goes to show how unwise it is to interrupt. I hope to deal with that point later in my speech.
      My hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson) is as assiduous in unearthing nuggets of gold from the speeches of others as he is in the brilliance of his own oratory. He pointed out that on 2 July 1975, when the House was debating the Report stage of the then Industry Bill, the Under-Secretary said:
      "Perhaps I should explain why I believe the bringing together of planning agreements and the disclosure of information should be encouraged in the interests of industry as a whole."—[Official Report, 2 July 1975; Vol. 894, c. 1504.]
      When that information was presented afresh to the hon. Gentleman, he replied. He is nothing if not honest. He is always absolutely frank. He said that that was some years ago. He told us that he was wiser than he had been previously. I understand that I believe that Sir
      858
      Winston Churchill once said—or said many times, for all I know—that consistency was the hobgoblin of small minds. Nobody can accuse the hon. Gentleman of having a small mind. [Interruption.] Sir Winston Churchill said that. Hon. Gentleman can look it up.
      I do not complain that the Minister changed his mind. After all, in the past eight or nine months he has been brainwashed, anyway, by his political chief, the Secretary of State for Industry. Obviously some of the brainwashing must have removed some of the honest grime of previous years, including the years of frank appraisal, when he was in the Whips' Office. These are the tragedies of getting into bad company. In his desire to purge the hon. Gentleman of the sickness of wishing to intervene, the Secretary of State neglected to inform him that he himself had made planning agreements. They may not be called planning agreements. I well understand that the termis not perhaps as popular with some as it is with others, but it comes to exactly the same thing.
      9.15 pm
      Is it not true that the agreements made between the Government and Rolls-Royce, the Government and British Leyland, and the Government and British Steel, and the reconstruction that is to come are effectively planning agreements? They are the direction by the Government to companies, industries or undertakings to do certain things if they are to receive aid or assistance. I suppose the answer that the hon. Gentleman might well employ is that this is the Government acting as owner. All that the Government are doing is acting as a group of shareholders might with a company that they owned. They are merely coming to an agreement with a company on how it might be managed. I understand that, too.
      Of course, the idea of Government intervention in industry is not confined to Labour Members. The tool of Government intervention in industry is not necessarily Socialist or capitalist. It has been used over the centuries in many cases and in many industries. I am not the first to point that out. An extrem-

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      ely prominent Conservative member of the agriculture EDC pointed out to me that since the 1930s agriculture has had to exist on a series of planning agreements with the Government. He said that it was much better for it. Of course, that is so. Occasionally I have pointed out that agreements on the way in which agriculturists produce and use resources which Governments—or kings in the past—have given them have been going on since the Bronze Age. There is nothing new about that.
      It is also true of the modern post-war era. The French have had a strong system of dirigiste intervention for many years—certainly since the Second World War. To a great extent, intervention accounts for the spectacular economic recovery of the Japanese. Many Conservatives believe that it is the right approach. The present Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—a position and a gentleman I hold deeply in my affections—was not exactly a non-interventionist when he was Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in the Conservative Government of a few years ago. On many occasions he used the Industry Act 1972, itself a tool of intervention. Many private companies required Government assistance in one way or another. They met the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry full on when he enforced upon them certain terms that be believed were necessary if they were to receive aid. Effectively they were planning agreements, although we may call them by any name we like.
      It is possible to divide the attitude of mind towards those agreements into two. Let me point out to you, Mr. Speaker, in your impartial seat, that I propose to deal with both sides of the House. It is interesting that the Labour Party is united totally about Government intervention. It could not be more united; there is nobody on the Opposition Benches who would decry it. However, on the Government side there appears to be a considerable conflict between the interventionists and the non-interventionists. The Under-Secretary started in a civilised way as being an interventionist—hence his remark in 1975. But the entryists have got at him since that time and have advocated no intervention at any cost.
      Intervention is a method of dealing with matters that is essential in a civilised
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      community. The Government must create an economic climate in which industry may prosper. That was said by the present Secretary of State for Industry. I agree. I do not agree that the present Government have created that climate. I believe they have created one of storm and distress, but that is another matter. Apart from the question of aid for individual companies and industries, the Government must do a number of things. The hon. Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer) may recall that I used the words of the Secretary of State for Industry in Committee a few days ago.
      The right hon. Gentleman stated the three basic interventions that the Government have to make so that industry may prosper. He said that they have to provide the infrastructure, communications and training. He said that if the Government provided those—I would go much further—industry could be left to itself. But who provides the resources and the finances for the infrastructure? Who provides the finances and the resources for the communications? Who provides the finances and the resources for the training? The answer, if I may again quote the words of the Secretary of State, is the long-suffering taxpayer whom he is at pains to mention almost every time he comes to the Dispatch Box. Is it not time that we recognised that the long-suffering taxpayer has a more than passing interest in the prosperity of British industry, in particular of British manufacturing industry, no matter whether he lives in the South-East or in the regions? He pays his price because it is not cheap to provide infrastructure, communications and training.
      In passing, may I say that I regret that it is precisely those three facets in public expenditure that the Government seem to have singled out above all others. They have made many cuts, but above all others those are the ones that they have singled out for slashing reductions in public money. The public expenditure cuts are not really cuts at all; they are merely transferrals of payment from the very poor to the very rich. Thus, the very poor have to pay for school meals, transport and so on. That is not a cut in expenditure.
      What is tragic is that a £200 million cut in the roads programme is actually a cut in expenditure which will not be

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      provided by private enterprise, because, of course, private enterprise will not provide the roads, the communications or of course, private enterprise will not pro-that the Government do. Therefore, regardless of whether the Government give aid, as I say they do, to agriculture—or have done selectively to an individual industry or undertaking—they have already put their money on the table to assist industry. That is the basis upon which we start this debate. The creation of a link road and the building of a motorway provide the basis for the situation in which industry, particularly manufacturing industry, may flourish.
      At this moment we are dealing with the question of the Government providing the means whereby private industry as well as Government-owned industry may flourish.
      Therefore, is it surprising that we on this side—and, indeed, some on the Government Benches—take the view that the Government ought to intervene to see that there is a proper statutory contract between themselves and those whom they are aiding, those without whose support—let us make no mistake about that—it would not even be possible to lay the first brick upon another in building a factory, to move the plant from one area to another, let alone to get the various processes of production going?
      If there is a difference between those Conservatives who favour intervention and my hon. Friends and myself, it is perhaps that those interventionist Conservatives tend to look at the economic problem piecemeal. They tend to look at it industry by industry, undertaking by undertaking, perhaps even area by area. I understand that. It is an approach that is perhaps in line with Conservative philosophy. But our point of view—and we say this unashamedly—is that we are in favour of the corporate Government approach to economic planning as a whole. That is the point from which we start.
      Sir Anthony Meyer (Flint, West): The right hon. Member may accept another correlation between the interventionism about which he says his party is united and the interventionism accepted by my hon. Friends, which he says is divided. There is general agreement
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      among my hon. Friends that intervention should be tapered off sharply. If the State has a role, it is a launching role. We are not prepared to commit ourselves to permanent intervention to prop up industries which are not viable.
      Mr. Silkin: We are engaged in a fascinating but trivial exercise, because the world is not listening. The Government will win on this issue, whether I am right or not. The Secretary of State said yesterday that he was not against nationalisation as such. He said that those who think as he does are not against nationalisation and that he and his hon. Friends were against nationalising the industries that trade. If he had said that he was against the nationalisation of manufacturing industries, I might have paused and agreed that it was difficult to decide on a dividing line. It is impossible to see what dividing line the Secretary of State is thinking of. He said that he was in favour of nationalising gas and electricity. Do not those industries trade? Gas and electricity are certainly sold across the counter. The same can be said of rail and coal.
      Conservative Members agree that certain industries should be in permanent Government ownership. That is what the Secretary of State said. Semi-permanent ownership presents a different problem. I define semi-permanent as being about 10 or 20 years. It is difficult to go further than that in an uncertain world. Rolls-Royce has been Government-owned for several years. Clearly, it will be Government-owned for many more years. It is said that the State ownership of British Shipbuilders is temporary, but I doubt whether it will go back to private enterprise. I think that the Conservatives also doubt that. There can be philosophical disagreements but practically they make little difference. I think that I am right.
      Mr. Raymond Whitney: I do not believe that the right hon. Member for Deptford (Mr. Silkin) has discovered a great new truth about the Conservative Party. We believe in the mixed economy. Does he believe in the mixed economy or in the Labour Party's clause four?
      Mr. Silkin: I certainly believe in clause four. That clause has been altered. It refers to the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and

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      exchange, which involves taking over the commanding heights of the economy. I certainly believe in that. That does not mean that I should not make the best of it or that a mixed economy might not go on for all time. Of course it might. There is a mixed economy even in East Germany. Not long ago 600 millionaires lived under that economy. That is a surprising number. However, we are going a long way off the subject and the Chair is being tolerant.
      I have spent far too much time talking about the rather divided philosophies of Conservative Members. I wish to give a forward-looking account of what ought to be done. We believe in the total economic planning of our country for the benefit of all its citizens. That means that industry, private as well as public, must play its part.
      9.30 pm
      There is nothing sacred about the words "planning agreement". There are those—whether Conservative with a large "C", such as the hon. Member for Yarmouth (Mr. Fell), or with small "c"—who do not like the term "planning agreement". I am prepared to sit down and work out with them a common name. Let us start again.
      A statutory contract between the Government and industry is required where those industries seek specific Government aid. It is required also where industries that are domiciled abroad wish to come to Britain—they usually wish it rather passionately—to set up their enterprise. We should be able to tell them that they should go to such and such a part of the country, whether it be South Wales, the North, or wherever. They should go where they are needed.
      Mr. Adam Butler: Will the right hon. Gentleman return in due course to the point that I raised in an earlier intervention? Will he explain why, if he believed as passionately then as he does now about the need for planning agreements—and bearing in mind that the amendment seeks to remove a clause that refers specifically to planning agreements under the Act—his Government did not establish planning agreements with all those nationalised industries under their responsibility and with other private sector
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      industries, except for the National Coal Board and Chrysler?
      Mr. Silkin: I said that I would return to that point. I usually keep my word. The hon. Gentleman has taken up two minutes on a matter that I was coming to in my speech. When he makes his speech, we shall be delighted to listen to him.
      A planning agreement should contain local pragmatic points of agreement between the Government and the undertaking or industry in question. It should also contain a number of other things, and they should be common to all such agreements. That is why it is essential to have a statutory agreement. It should have a company investment strategy. It should spell out clearly the rate, the timing and the location. It should have a pricing policy. It should detail the jobs and the retraining in that undertaking. It should detail the new product development. It should, above all, deal with industrial relations. In addition, it should include the export-import content of the undertaking. It should state clearly how that fits into the national interest.
      That would give direct Government influence on corporate strategy, and that is right. It would ally the plans of the individual company with the Government's industrial and economic objectives in the national interest. It would not be sufficient merely to do it and then leave it alone. Such an agreement should be for a five-year period. I have never had a great deal of admiration for the late Joseph Stalin, but I think that the choice of five years for an economic plan is probably about right. It is the same period of time as we choose for a Parliament. Such an agreement should, nevertheless, be capable of annual review and updating.
      As I had always intended, I turn now to the point raised by the Minister. He asked why when we were in Government we did not make more use of planning agreements. The sort of planning agreement that we tried to deal with—we hoped that we would carry the industry with us—did not contain the various points that I have made.
      I quoted the words of the Under-Secretary of State, and perhaps the Minister of State will profit by them. He said that

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      he was wiser now than he was some years ago. It is no discredit to an Opposition, as they look back over their years in Government, to say "Yes, we did certain things that were very good, but they could have been improved upon." Indeed, it would be intolerable if any Opposition were to say "Nothing that happened in the past can ever be improved upon." A little humility on the part of the Minister of State might have enabled the present Government to have avoided the sort of mistakes that they have been making at other people's expense during the past eight or nine months.
      Mr. Stuart Holland: My right hon. Friend the Member for Deptford (Mr. Silkin) usefully itemised several of the key elements which should have been covered by planning agreements on a wide basis through the economy had the then Government been able to pursue those policies on a voluntary basis. He might also have added that to a considerable extent a learning process also occurred during the lifetime of that Government affecting certain Ministers who initially did not fully support the rationale for planning agreements but increasingly realised the need for them. That was witnessed, for example, by their attempt to negotiate a planning agreement in the case of Chrysler, after that company had effectively said that it would wind down its operations in this country.
      It is also important to grasp the fact that the criteria for planning agreements which my right hon. Friend mentioned are the same criteria for intervention through the NEB—an institution that is referred to in clause 1. That is to say, both a planning mechanism and a public enterprise capacity were conceived by those who shaped and endorsed the policy as complementary instruments for trying to cope with a massive concentration of economic power in the contemporary British economy.
      In effect, that concentration is greater than virtually any other economy in the Western world, including the United States, and massively greater than in the Continent of Europe. It is worth stressing just how much it amounts to. For example, three banks account for 95 per cent. of banking, six companies for half of insurance and construction, about 100 companies for half of manufacturing, about 30 companies for 40 per cent. of
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      our invisible export trade and about 75 firms for about half of our visible export trade.
      In practice, that means that literally a few dozen very large companies have come to dominate the macro-economic performance of this economy—the overall global performance. One cannot look at either an individual industry or the overall performance of visible trade in this country without taking account of the concentration of economic power in those macro-economic aggregates.
      In shaping this policy, the Labour Party also took account of, and has stressed in its published documents on international big business, the fact that a vast proportion of these companies are multinational and operate on a major scale. That is an important and relevant factor in this debate. For example, the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland said during the previous debate on regional policy that we need to encourage inward investment. But our main need is partly to stem outward investment from this country.
      The biggest problem concerning multinationals in this country is not so much foreign capital here but our capital elsewhere. We are five times more multinational, in terms of the ratio of foreign production relative to exports, than Germany or Japan, two of our leading competitor countries. As a result, our companies are frequently represented in foreign markets by direct production, plant and equipment that they would otherwise export.
      It is, surely, no accident that the British Export Trade Research Organisation, in analysing the export performance of some of the biggest British companies, found that whereas the Germans and the Japanese had, on average, 10 or 11 permanent sales representatives in key foreign markets, the biggest British companies had, on average, either one person or no one. The organisation used, with some reason, a good cricketing metaphor in saying "It seems strange that Governments hope to win out in work export stakes against a German or Japanese eleven with one person or no one in the field."
      It is not simply a matter of sloth. It is not simply a matter of insufficiency. A major company, Dunlop, gave evidence to the Expenditure Committee to the effect that it made a surplus from regional

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      development incentives that were useful for investment elsewhere while at the same time setting up a new plant in Germany. If Dunlop is represented by a new plant in Germany, this will tend to decrease its exports to Germany from the United Kingdom, especially when the investment equipment until recently in use in one of the key Dunlop plants in Liverpool—a massive piece of machinery that strips rubber—was bought secondhand from Army surplus in the late 1940s. In other words, Dunlop UK, in export markets, is using old equipment and is not likely to compete on a major scale with its own new factory and plant in another country on a major scale.
      Mr. Eric Deakins (Waltham Forest): Is not the position even worse than my hon. Friend has described? If Dunlop has a plant in Germany as well as in the United Kingdom, is it not likely that, as a multinational company, its head office will divide the whole of the world market between those two countries and companies and the British company, however efficient or successful, will not be able to market its product in certain countries of the world? This is the pattern of many multinational companies. It has hit our export trade.
      Mr. Holland: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. That illustrates exactly the problems that we face. Much criticism is made of British Leyland as a major company within the National Enterprise Board. It is widely overlooked that, although British Leyland is paying commercial rates of interest—recently of the order of 15 or 17 per cent.—it is still making a profit. It is also the major exporting company in the United Kingdom. It is the major exporting company partly because it is not so multinational as others.
      Ninety-seven per cent. of the components used by a company such as British Leyland are British components as opposed to half or fewer such components in the case of other leading multinational companies. One of every two Ford cars sold in this country is produced abroad or uses components predominantly produced abroad. No Government seriously concerned about import penetration to United Kingdom markets can continue to rely on policies such as interest rate
      868
      changes, exchange rate changes or global tax rate changes affecting the general climate of opinion if they do not recognise the specific structural problems caused for our trade and investment by the activity of these dominant firms.
      9.45 pm
      My right hon. Friend the Member for Deptford has cited foreign experience of planning agreements. It is of some relevance to specify how extensive this is when Governments are not left of centre in the political spectrum. Belgium, for example, has a variety of agreements of the planning agreement type. One is called the management agreement. That is where the Government are putting in public money but, on inquiring into the company's affairs, are dissatisfied with the management of the company, and have therefore come to an agreement that they will inject public funds, not necessarily with a public shareholding but insisting on a management change.
      Instead of that deal being done behind closed doors—in a manner which, until quite recently, was familiar in the election of leaders of the Conservative Party—the deal is made explicit in a signed agreement between the management and the Government. [Interruption.] There are other kinds of agreement—[Interruption.] It sometimes occurs to me that Conservative Members have forgotten that "Your Old Boys'Organisation" spells "YOBO", and much of their intervention in the debate comes into that category.
      There are other types of agreement—[Interruption.] I can understand why Conservative Members are quite embarrassed by the catalogue that I am reciting of intervention by Christian Democrat Governments abroad, because it is so strikingly in contrast with their own failure even to recognise the need for intervention in our economy.
      There are other agreements pursued by the Belgian Government called development or prototype agreements, involving major expenditures not only on advanced technology but on modern technology and modernisation. There are others called restructuring agreements, where specific mergers have been sought by the Government between smaller companies in the system in order to strengthen the competitive position of companies. There is a further agreement—a programme

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      agreement or programme contract as it is called—on prices, in relation to the price performance of the company over the medium term.
      There is another country that I have in mind in which Governments have been right of centre, although some of them have chosen not to sit with the British Conservatives in the European Assembly. In France there has been a range of specific agreements made by the Government with leading businesses. They are very similar, in key essentials, to planning agreements.
      One is the programme agreement policy which was introduced in 1968, which relates essentially to price performance. But the Government have admitted that, in order to know effectively what would be a reasonable price for a leading company to charge—especially in a market where it is gaining considerable public funds—information is needed on the cost and profit structures and on the technology used, as well as on the import structure of the company. Otherwise, the Government cannot determine to what extent transfer pricing is being used to overstate import prices, and so forth.
      In the French case, the target of the planners in the 1950s was to achieve a position where 80 per cent. of the sales in a given industry were controlled by some 20 per cent. of firms. Whether or not the result is directly due to their policy—and I would argue elsewhere that it is not—they are now in a position in France where about 80 per cent. of the market is controlled by 2 per cent. of the firms in that industry. But the dramatic factor is this. Unlike many of our own multinational companies, which export 20 per cent. or less of the equivalent of their domestic production in the United Kingdom, in France most of the leading companies are exporting the equivalent of 80 per cent. of their domestic production.
      That is a direct consequence of leverage brought by the Government over a number of years. Planning policies of this kind and also a new kind of planning agreement policy, introduced in 1975—the development agreement policy—have effectively gained them a very powerful export sector, as we have witnessed in automobiles. The Renault is one of the most successful cars imported into this country.
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      In Italy a range of agreements has been undertaken with some of the most powerful companies in the system in relation to regional development. Inasmuch as planning agreements were designed to cover a regional location of industry, in the specific manner to which my right hon. Friend referred earlier, this may be of interest to Conservative Members, who argue implicity that private enterprise has the competitive edge on public enterprice throughout the system.
      There has been State intervention at Taranto, through a new steel plant, with 10 million tons capacity. This is an oxygen-converting shore-based plant, one of the most efficient in the world. The steel from that plant is now related to the production of automobiles in the "Clydeside of Italy", in Naples, on a major scale, creating 30,000 jobs directly and indirectly in an industrial complex in that area, where industry was previously almost entirely lacking.
      In that plan involving two public enterprises in Southern Italy, the country's Christian Democratic Government used a planning agreement formula with leading private companies such as Fiat and Pirelli to ensure that they brought production and the supply of rubber tyres to that area.
      The Tories have argued that planning agreements are unnecessary. We have heard the Secretary of State for Industry say that what the economy needs is decreased State intervention. We have heard fluent phrases about rolling back the frontiers of the State and about the need for us to compete with the newly industrialised countries such as South Korea. If we look outside the European complex at some of the more sensationally successful exporting countries, what do we find? In Japan there are Zaibaus, the vast conglomerates that are linked closely with the industry and trade ministry, MITI.
      In South Korea there are several examples that demonstrate that foreign Governments do not rely on the free working of the market mechanism in the same way as the Conservatives. In Korea all major investment projects are strictly controlled and there is tight control over offshore borrowing by leading enterprises. That is in surprising contrast to the recent abolition of exchange controls by this Government.

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      The Korean Government have the right to intervene directly in pricing. We have recommended such intervention in planning agreements, and that contrasts nakedly with the abolition of the Price Commission. Korea is a capitalist economy. The Government have the right, and they use it, to impose punitive taxes in excess of 100 per cent. on profits made by companies which the Government consider do not charge competitive prices. The Korean Government have the right directly to control the trading activities of companies and will not renew import licences for companies which have a very high import dependence.
      When we are competing with countries such as South Korea, Japan, France and Italy, we must face the fact that there is major State intervention in the industrial structure of those countries and that their Governments adopt powers far more wide-ranging than anything considered by this Government. Those powers are similar in aim to the kind of planning agreements that the last Government tried to introduce.
      We must also face the problem of how we compete in future with Japan, Korea, South-East Asia, France and Germany on automobiles or machine tools. How can we compete unless we adopt similarly interventionist structures? In the earlier debate about the National Enterprise Board, it was said that the German Government intervened through the United Industries Corporation. That public intervention agency is one of many State holding companies similar in structure to the NEB that the German Government actively support in the system.
      In the German system—ignoring four letter words such as "plan"—there is a mechanism for intervening in the economy through the supervisory boards of the banks. In other words, the banks, in association with Government Ministries, have a clear over-view of the allocation of resources in the system.
      How also can we compete effectively with countries such as South Korea and Taiwan, where there has been a vicious attack on the formation of trade unions and on trade union rights? How can we possibly compete when their labour costs are about one-fifth of the labour costs of the United Kingdom?
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      There are two ways out of this and they relate directly to the planning agreement argument. Either the Government intervene or they do not, and either they intervene with or without the support of the trade unions. In other words, they try to resolve the problem of British industry either against the trade unions and the labour force or with them.
      British Leyland is a classic case. If the chairman of British Leyland comes down from the mountain with the tablets for a new plan for restructuring the industry which is not based on continuing consultations and negotiations with the labour force, it is hardly surprising that that labour force should oppose key elements of the plan. In the interesting current case of the dismissal of Derek Robinson, a senior convener in that company, and the demand for his reinstatement—
      Mr. Speaker: Order. I think that the hon. Member is about to stray from the narrow path of the amendment.
      Mr. Holland: I am grateful, Mr. Speaker, and I respect your advice. However, planning agreements were supposed to be negotiated by trade unions within companies. Therefore, I submit that the resolution of industrial relations problems in big and complex business relates very much to whether we can involve the labour forces in those companies in joint negotiations of corporate planning.
      For example, in this respect Conservative Members, with the support of the CBI, have argued a confidentiality factor. They said that the disclosure provisions to trade unions in the 1975 Industry Act would result in forms of industrial espionage or other forms of security risk for companies. Personally, I regret that some leading Labour Members tended to share that view. I submit that the confidentiality question is not a serious issue in planning agreement negotiations. We know very well that there are models and products in major companies in this country and the shop floor is fully aware of what will be produced and when, where no details have been released from the shop floor to the press.
      Moreover, we must face the coming problems of technological unemployment in the system. We have predictions of major technological unemployment of 20

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      to 30 per cent. in services, as well as predictions from the Government's own Think Tank or Central Policy Review Staff of technological unemployment in industry on a major scale, higher than 20 to 30 per cent., over the next 15 to 20 years. How can Conservative Members confront a situation such as that? How can that kind of problem be resolved without negotiations with the trade unions? What kind of powers do the Government anticipate adopting in industry or on the shop floor? Why will they not face the challenge of these technologies with the unions instead of trying to introduce them against the unions' wishes?
      At present the Government's policy posture is entirely negative. If they are to face these problems, they must seriously consider whether bringing threats of unemployment from the captains of industry to the shop floor in a nineteenth century manner will actually cope with the economic problems of the twenty-first century.
      There is a further point on public accountability and public money which is crucial to the use of planning agreements outside the country. The Conservative Party says that it is concerned about the waste of public money.
      It being Ten o'clock, the debate stood adjourned.
      Ordered,
      That, at this day's sitting, the Industry Bill may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.—[Mr. MacGregor.]
      Question again proposed, That the amendment be made.
      Mr. Holland: The question is whether we will get value for public money by tailoring public spending to actual needs in a negotiating framework between the Government, trade unions and big business. Will we get value for money by leverage on the investment, pricing, technology and export performance of those companies? If we fail to do so, the failure will be not only that of the Government and Conservative Members but a failure of major significance for the country.
      Dr. Jeremy Bray: The discussion of the sections of the Industry Act 1975 which the clause seeks to amend was the occasion of great high jinks during the passage of
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      the 1975 Act, as hon. Members will recall. At that time my right lion. Friend the Member for Bristol, South-East (Mr. Benn) was the Secretary of State for Industry and my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Varley) was Secretary of State for Energy. Their positions were exchanged by my right hon. Friend the Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) while the clauses were being considered in Committee. He then set about redrafting with his own fair hand sections 28 to 31 of the Industry Act 1975. It may be of help to the House to bear that in mind when considering the attitude of Labour Members towards the sections of the Industry Act 1975 which we are now amending.
      With respect to my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Holland) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson), section 21 is not an entirely satisfactory definition of planning agreements. The concept which it sought to embody was not well presented in the original drafting of the Bill, nor was the concept relating to the economic planning methods of the Government at that time or since. The task that faces hon. Members is not the re-enactment of that section but the setting of it in a proper context of industrial policy over the lifetime of this Parliament in preparation for the next.
      The more immediate provisions which arise are those relating to the disclosure of information—sections 28 onwards—in the 1975 Act. Those sections are totally repealed. There are parallel provisions on the disclosure of information in the Employment Protection Act, which the Government have not so far repealed or do not propose to repeal.
      The provisions in the Employment Protection Act go a great deal further than the disclosure provisions that the Government are now repealing. They leave the initiative in the disclosure of information to be taken by trade unions on their own initiative. They leave the enforcement of those disclosure provisions to be taken to the arbitration procedures, and ultimately to be decided by the arbitration committee, with the sanction that if a company does not disclose information any outstanding claim from the trade unions shall be granted in full.

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      Those are Draconian powers to enforce the disclosure of information.
      To my knowledge, the previous Government did not carry through the necessary Orders in Council to encourage a code of practice to allow those procedures to be fully exhausted. In my view, that is a more satisfactory passage of disclosure than one that depends upon the initiative of the Secretary of State.
      I hope that I am not surrendering a hostage to fortune by drawing the Government's attention to those provisions. When they seek, as they ultimately must, serious discussions with the trade unions, they will find it beneficial to the trade unions and themselves to take more rather than less liberal attitudes to disclosure of information by companies within the context of the Employment Protection Act. It is acknowledged by progressive managements in all companies that employees cannot be encouraged to take too much interest in the affairs of their company. Employees should be able to apply that little bit of pressure where there may, here and there, be a recalcitrant management holding back information that would help the proper conduct of industrial relations and the business as a whole.
      The amendment carefully dodges the issue of disclosure of information by the Government. In the previous Parliament I attempted to amend that part of the 1975 Act dealing with the disclosure of Treasury forecasts and access to the Treasury model. The amendment is trivial, removing from the schedule discussion of forecasts in the context of planning agreements. Perhaps the Treasury's attention can be drawn to the fact that the provisions of schedule 5 are not being operated entirely satisfactorily in the view of many private companies and nationalised industries now making good use of the provisions.
      If Ministers read the article by Roy Hodson in the Financial Times about the way in which the British Steel Corporation re-evaluated its perspective on the demand for steel, they will see the part played by schedule 5 to the 1975 Act. I do not argue that in defence of the schedule. I am a bit embarrassed by it. Nevertheless, it is an example of how valuable it is for part of the public sector and private industry to have access to
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      the apparatus of Government thinking and not just the headlines in the popular press about what the Government are exposed to.
      The first problem about the operation of schedule 5 is that the Treasury imposes on private users of the forecasts and the model a great deal of quite unnecessary labour in the Eurovision of endless data about the state of world trade, volumes of future public expenditure, and so on. Thousands of numbers simply have to be re-invented in the private sector, which the Treasury could perfectly well make available as the basis of forecasts for points of departure on alternative assumptions. The first requirement is to make available all the data that the Treasury needs in order to provide a base forecast.
      Secondly, the Treasury should fully state the assumptions on which its forecasts are based. There was a great deal of unnecessary shenanigans regarding publication of the previous Treasury forecasts. The Government were needlessly embarrassed by a misinterpretation of the intentions of schedule 5.
      Treasury Ministers should give credit to industry generally, financial commentators and hon. Members, who are all concerned about the state of the economy. They realise that the evaluation of the state of the economy is necessarily a matter on which opinions differ and different kinds of assessment need to be made in the light of the different problems on which people are seeking guidance. The Government could avoid much embarrassment if they stuck to the intentions of the original schedule. May I remind Ministers of what it said:
      "Not less than twice in each year commencing with a date not later than one year…the Treasury shall publish forecasts produced with the aid of the model as to such matters and based on such alternative assumptions as appear to them to be appropriate."
      The Government are not doing that. They are disobeying the schedule. They are disobeying the law. They are not stating the assumptions or providing forecasts of alternative assumptions. They are unnecessarily embarrassing themselves.
      I have not tabled any amendments to the schedule, because I think that it is appropriate that the Government should be given an opportunity to rethink their practice. We shall turn to that in due

      877
      course in the Select Committee on the Treasury and Civil Service and possibly have some recommendations to put to the House on an appropriate occasion.
      Mr. Cryer: It would be unfair to allow this part of the Bill to go by without making a few remarks on the amendment that seeks to exclude the clause and so preserve some aspects of the Industry Act 1975 which we spent such a great deal of time to get through the House.
      It is interesting that the Government are now very concerned with clause 15. It is symptomatic of the Government's determination to remove their activities from industry when only yesterday, in a different part of the same Bill, the Under-Secretary told us that small firms cannot organize themselves to assess the market, that property developers cannot organize themselves to assess the market for the demand of small units by small firms and that the Government will do it for them.
      The Government are employing a firm of consultants to assess the demand for small units for small firms and will then feed the information to private enterprise developers. That clearly points to the need for intervention to assess the position, because the market will not do it.
      In clause 15 the Government seek to delete the moderate arrangements under the 1975 Act enabling the Government to obtain information. The section clearly sets out that the Government first went on a voluntary path. It was only when the Government could not obtain information from a company on a voluntary basis that they could use the statutory procedures which were, yet again, subject to orders brought before the House for debate and scrutiny. Yet this mild, moderate and modest proposal is now to be cast to one side by the Government. Before the Minister obtained an order, he had to allow representations from either the companies or the trade unions concerned. We are talking about the sort of companies, as my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Holland) reminded us, that are responsible for 50 per cent. of our manufacturing industry—the top 100 companies.
      If we look at our experience in manufacturing industry, we see that it is not exactly glowing with success when decisions have been made. Do not the Government need to obtain information
      878
      when the national interest is at stake? The Government are so blinded by their philosophy that they actually believe that private enterprise entrepreneurs, organised into companies, make decisions that are always correct and always in the interests of the community and the country at large. That is not true.
      Do not the Government realise that over the past few years we have seen whole industries wiped out because of absurd decisions that have been made? One needs only to consider the motor cycle industry, which a scant 10 years or so ago had 75 per cent. of the world market. In that period the industry has been reduced to a small remaining remnant of Meriden Motorcycles, which makes Triumphs.
      If we had had information and warning lights of this sort available, the Government could have taken action. But the people who organised Norton Villiers Triumph at that time had exactly the same attitude as the Department of Industry has today; they had contempt for the Government. Representatives of the Department of Industry actually had to wait and queue up to give information to NVT in those dark days when it was in decline. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]
      Mr. Speaker: Order. This is the second occasion on which I have had to point out that hon. Members have a seat on which to sit. There is no need to sit on the arm of the Bench with one's feet in the aisle. It is unworthy of the House.
      10.15 pm
      Mr. Cryer: I am most grateful to you, Mr. Speaker, for reminding some Conservative Members of the normal courtesies by which hon. Members abide in the Chamber.
      The requirement of the provision of information is important. I think that the Government will come to regret their position on this aspect, because their philosophy simply will not work. Their private entrepreneurs will not create the jobs which are fast disappearing as de-industrialisation takes place. The Government will require at some stage to seek information from the very large and important companies which so dominate our economy, and they will almost certainly regret the demise of these sections of the Act.
      Mr. Whitney: The hon. Gentleman says that the private entrepreneurs will not create the jobs. Is he suggesting that British Leyland and the British Steel Corporation offer better alternatives?
      Mr. Cryer: All I am saying is that the Government have pinned their faith on to individual entepreneurs in the creation of jobs as an alternative to jobs in some sectors of industry which are de-industrialising: In fact, British Leyland and British Steel cannot stand on their own feet. They have to have Government action as well. If British Steel, for example, had some help from the Government in controlling the 20 per cent. of our steel which is imported, its capacity might be subject to greater utilisation. If British Leyland had assistance from the Government in controlling the flood of imports from the Common Market, it, too, might be able to undertake the level of investment that is required in order to give us competitive equality with the other European car manufacturers.
      That is the fact of the matter. The industrial enterprises, whether in public hands or in private hands, cannot exist in isolation from the Government. Indeed, the large corporations recognise that. They have departments liaising with the Government. They understand and work very much in close liaison with the Department of Industry. The permanent secretary and the deputy secretaries of the Department of Industry would, if asked, be able to list the large organisations with which they are in constant contact.
      These sections of the Act put that relationship on a formal basis and give powers to the Government to make the over-mighty subjects of the economy, the very large corporations, subject to the national interest. It is not much to ask that the country as a whole should have the benefit of some element of accountability on the part of these large corporations.
      The second point I mention is planning agreements. The previous Labour Government were mistaken in not having some form of compulsion on planning agreements. They were undermined by the CBI, that over-mighty body. It is not elected. It is appointed. It has enormous power amongst industrialists.
      880
      It set out with determined purpose to undermine the decisions of the elected Government of the day. That was what it amounted to. There were no front-page headlines about that. But that was what was going on for the whole period. We ought to have resisted the opposition, and we ought to have pressed ahead and had some reserve powers on compulsion.
      My guess is that the next manifesto of the Labour Party will have that view restored to it and we shall have those reserve powers. [Interruption.] They will be needed. The comfortable interventions from the comfortably reclining figures of comfortable, well-fed, wealthy Tories will not allow them to evade the fact that when the next election takes place the British capitalist economy will be in a deep and critical situation. Radical action by the central Government will be required in order to rescue our manufacturing industry from complete decline and chaos. It is necessary to have a compulsory element in planning agreements. However, the planning agreements constituted in the 1975 Act—it is true that we achieved only two—
      Mr. Laurie Pavitt (Brent, South): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I draw your attention to certain discourteous behaviour?
      Mr. Speaker: This is the third time that such behaviour has occurred. Hon. Members should not stand and talk to each other when another hon. Member is addressing the House. That applies to all hon. Members.
      Mr. Cryer: I am most grateful, Mr. Speaker, for your comments. As one of the more courteous hon. Members, I can certainly appreciate your intervention.
      Planning agreements have been undermined by the CBI. We depended upon a voluntary arrangement. We had hoped that the trade union movement would press for such voluntary planning agreements to be implemented. However, when trade unions attempted to obtain information about planning agreements from the Department of Industry, or the regional office in Birmingham, they were told that no information was available. That is extraordinary. One must conclude that there were elements in the Department of Industry who were not enthusiastic about the implementation of

      881
      planning agreements. They were not prepared to carry out the provision of information with the verve and enthusiasm that one might reasonably expect.
      Planning agreements are the essential tool of any future Labour Government in the management of the economy. My hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall pointed out that planning agreements would have covered import substitution, the shifting of investment and the transfer pricing policies of large multinational companies. If we do not control multinationals, they will very shortly control us. They have turnovers similar to those of small countries. They are enormously powerful. They can move across frontiers.
      When people say that public ownership is the only answer to the problems of British industry, the ailing capitalist sector and large corporations, I reply that we need planning agreements. Such planning agreements are essential in order to tackle the large corporations. They are an additional or alternative weapon that can be used to get into private boardrooms. In that way, we could incorporate public accountability into the decision-making process.
      Mr. Hordern: I think that there were only one or two planning agreements. One of those agreements was taken out with the Chrysler corporation. The hon. Gentleman may recall that that corporation was taken over by Peugeot-Citroen. That is one of the international companies of which he is so critical. Does he agree that what he had in mind about the planning agreement was that the corporation accorded the lowest wage increase—namely, 4 per cent.—of any company in Britain?
      Mr. Cryer: The planning agreement with Chrysler was very expensive. It cost £167 million. That is far more than we can afford for any further planning agreements. I do not think that planning agreements should be implemented in that way. It demonstrates the importance of having reserve compulsory powers so that we do not have to go cap in hand to large companies. Those companies dictate to the Government the terms under which a planning agreement is to be implemented. The hon. Gentleman is right. There were only two planning
      882
      agreements. One was made with Chrysler and the other with the NCB.
      The whole programme lacked verve and strength in implementation. The chairman of Vauxhall, a subsidiary of General Motors, regularly attended meetings to discuss planning agreements with the Department of Industry. However, as soon as it was decided to make those agreements voluntary, he abandoned his attendance on the basis that it no longer mattered. That was the difference that that element of policy made.
      We were unable to get many planning agreements. We were unable to get an element of public accountability to the Government by the large corporations which dominated the economy. We have learnt our lesson. There is no doubt that it would be helpful to retain these provisions for building on in future legislation.
      Mr. Deakins: I have two comments to make, one to the Government and one to my right hon. and hon. Friends. The debate sets out clearly the deep divisions in philosophy and practice between the two sides in their attitude to the relationship between the Government and industry. Nothing we say on this side will convince the Government that the economic policies on which they are embarked, particularly the lack of Government intervention in industry to help the economy along, will be unsuccessful. Time will tell.
      The policies of the Government in relation to industry show a remarkable, one might almost say extraordinary, faith and confidence in the ability of British industry and British management to survive unaided in a hostile world without Government planning and without the participation of trade unions and work-people in the major decisions that will affect British companies. I do not wish to argue the case, because nothing I say will convince the Government.
      My right hon. Friend the Member for Deptford (Mr. Silkin) said that planning agreements were between the Government and industry. He was using shorthand. When he spoke of industry, he was referring to both sides of industry. The concept of planning agreements is tripartite, between the Government, management and trade unions in individual firms. It is therefore regrettable that, when I asked

      883
      the Minister in December how many representations about the dropping of planning agreements had been received from trade unions, the answer was "None".
      I take advantage of the amendment to say that we need to ensure that those who will be working planning agreements—managements and trade unions—in the firms affected are aware of what is involved and that they know the principles of the planning agreements and the detailed method by which they will be implemented. What we must avoid is a Labour Minister coming to power next time with only a skeletal framework for planning agreements. We must have them worked out in great detail.
      Mr. David Mitchell: We have had an interesting debate ranging over many subjects, including disclosure and planning agreements. The hon. Member for Mother well and Wishaw (Dr. Bray) appealed for the retention of the disclosure provisions. It would have been helpful if an ex-Minister had risen to explain to the House why, when we had a Labour Government, no disclosure arrangements were entered into. When the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) rose to speak, I had a sense of expectation. Alas, there was no explanation from him. I have asked the oldest and wisest adviser in my Department about this. He recalled legislation back to 1380, but he could not recall an occasion when the compulsory powers contained in this legislation had been put into effect.
      10.30 pm
      I was unhappy when the hon. Member for Keighley claimed that civil servants in the Department of Industry had failed to carry out the working of planning agreements. I stoutly defend the officials in my Department. They are unable to speak for themselves. They consistently carry out ministerial policy. I cannot help wondering who was the Minister at the time when the hon. Member for Keighley was an Under-Secretary in the Department of Industry.
      I turn to the important speech of the right hon. Member for Deptford (Mr. Silkin). He built a little section of his speech on the fact that at some stage in the past I said, apparently, that there was a case for bringing together planning agreements and disclosure of information.
      884
      On that remark he built, as did the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson), a little foundation. In Commiteee I said that if I had ever made those remarks, I was not sure of the context in which they should be taken and that I was now older and wiser.
      Unfortunately, the right hon. Gentleman had relied on the advice of his hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton. In fact, it was not I who made that remark during the passage of the 1975 Bill. I admitted in Committee to a felony for which I was not responsible because I was so anxious to please the right hon. Gentleman. He will recognise that the whole of what followed from that elegant foundation was built on false ground.
      I consider it enormously important that the right hon. Gentleman made a plea for planning agreements on the ground that the Government are involved in giving aid to industry and that that should be related to planning agreements. He made an important statement, and industry should be grateful for the warning that, should be ever occupy the position of Secretary of State for Industry, that is the way in which his mind works, with all the dangers that that poses for industry in the future.
      Those in industry are aware that the most successful firms are those with a broad concept and vision of where they are going, with flexibility, innovation and an ability to change rapidly in response to the market. A planning agreement gives the presumption of a predetermined way forward. It introduces a second party into the changing of those plans. I can think of nothing that would prevent change more effectively than the right hon. Gentleman's proposals. They would mean that the future would be set in concrete—a prescription for the speed, elasticity, flexibility and responsiveness of a pterodactyl.
      The right hon. Gentleman told us that planning agreements should include investment, prices, jobs, details of training, details of product design and export and import plans. As the House will know, all these are things that can be responsive only to the market and the customer. The customer is the one person who cannot be dragooned by the Government or by the right hon. Gentleman—unless he is planning a blueprint for 1984 in which the consumer does not have choice but

      885
      has to accept what comes from the planning agreements.
      Mr. Cryer: The Minister is exhibiting superbly a combination of ignorance and prejudice. Will he explain to us why, in the glorious free days of the 1970–74 period, when there were no planning agreements and the entrepreneurs were making their decisions, the British Motor Corporation was a failure and the British motor cycle industry was wiped off the face of the earth? They were examples of private enterprise. They were total failures.
      Mr. Mitchell: Had the management of those industries been allowed to manage, we might have had a different result. The ability of management to manage within its industry is not a matter which is within the gift of the Government. It is very much within the gift of those who work in the industry. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will recognise that.
      Mr. Budgen: Surely my hon. Friend is giving the impression that failure is not a part of the capitalist system. Surely it is.
      Mr. Mitchell: Of course. In no way do I wish to disagree with my hon. Friend on that. What I am seeking to say is that success or failure is within the gift of men and management but not within the gift of the Government. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State said, there have been only two planning agreements—Chrysler, which was not renewed after a year, and a partial planning agreement with the National Coal Board. Labour Members look back with nostalgia at that as their idea of progress for the future.
      Perhaps the obituary to this whole concept can be well spoken by the right hon. Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson), a former Prime Minister, who said that planning agreements were the ignis fatuus—I am told that that translates into "the will-o'-the-wisp"—of Labour's leftward thinking. Let that be the obituary to the amendment. I invite the House to reject it.
      Mr. John Silkin: By leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I should like to make a short reply. I must first apologise to the Minister for having misquoted him, but I feel that he must apologise to me for acknowledging a parenthood that
      886
      was obviously illegitimate. Equally, he perhaps owes me a second apology in that he will keep quoting the occasional lapses into Latin of my right hon. Friend the Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson). That was the second time the hon. Gentleman has done it on successive occasions. It was not a very clever remark at the time because ignis fatuus, if I remember it correctly, is not so much a will-o'-the-wisp as a dancing light. But that is by the way.
      However, the hon. Gentleman's point was simply that, in order to be successful, industry—here I take the point of my hon. Friend the Member for Waltham Forest (Mr. Deakins), because he is quite right—comprises both those who manage and, especially, those who work in it. Without them, nothing will be produced. not even for those customers who do not have much choice under the present Government since imports are coming in and destroying the whole of the market. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] They are. They are coming in at an enormous rate and destroying industry in this country. Therefore, it is those who work in industry who are important.
      That is what I am trying to say to the Minister, and he had better get it clear because it is right that he should. The test is whether we are to preserve, maintain and improve our industry. Of course, we can surrender it and have the choice between Japanese, Italian or French goods but not British goods. That is not what we want.
      If we are to preserve British manufacturing industry, the country must do something about it. The hon. Gentleman says that my views are a danger to British industry, but the real danger is in not providing the roads—or cutting £200 million off the road programme—so that there is no way in which there can be communication between one area and another. The real danger is in cutting the infrastructure so that there are no schools, hospitals or houses for the workers. The real danger is in cutting the trains.
      Those were the three things that the Secretary of State said were essential and that the Government had to give to industry. If the Government are to give those things to industry, they have the right to expect that in return industry will assist the nation.

      887
      When we began our discussions on the Industry Bill, I thought that one might be able to do a little conversion on the hon. Gentleman, not because I, unlike my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson), thought that he had made the remark which he did not make, but because I thought that he was a natural interventionist. I find that he is not an interventionist. He is a Stone Age man. Conversion is impossible. He prefers the Stone Age. I prefer the twentieth and the twenty-first centuries.
      I thought at that stage that the hon. Gentleman's Government might last a long
      time, perhaps another three years. I no longer think so. Although the Government will win the vote on this amendment and get this miserable, little Bill through the House, they will not last. When the time comes—perhaps not for a few months, but within touching distance—we shall know what to do. I have told the House this evening exactly what we have in mind.
      Question put, That the amendment be made: —
      The House divided: Ayes 230, Noes 295.

      Division No. 163]

      AYES

      [10.43 pm

      Abse, Leo

      Dunnett, Jack

      Kerr, Russell

      Adams, Allen

      Dunwoody, Mrs. Gwyneth

      Kinnock, Neil

      Allaun, Frank

      Eadie, Alex

      Lambie, David

      Anderson, Donald

      Eastham, Ken

      Lamborn, Harry

      Archer, Rt Hon Peter

      Edwards, Robert (Wolv SE)

      Lamond, James

      Armstrong, Rt Hon Ernest

      Ellis, Raymond (NE Derbyshire)

      Leadbitter, Ted

      Ashley, Rt Hon Jack

      Ellis, Tom (Wrexham)

      Leighton, Ronald

      Atkinson, Norman (H'gey, Tott'ham)

      English, Michael

      Lestor, Miss Joan(Eton & Slough)

      Barnett, Guy (Greenwich)

      Evans, (Ioan (Aberdare)

      Litherland, Robert

      Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (Heywood)

      Evans, John (Newton)

      Lofthouse, Geoffrey

      Benn, Rt Hon Anthony Wedgwood

      Ewing, Harry

      Lyons, Edward (Bradford West)

      Bennett, Andrew (Stockport N)

      Field, Frank

      McCartney, Hugh

      Bidwell, Sydney

      Fitch, Alan

      McDonald, Dr Oonagh

      Booth, Rt Hon Albert

      Fitt, Gerard

      McElhone, Frank

      Boothroyd, Miss Betty

      Flannery, Martin

      McGuire, Michael (Ince)

      Bradley, Tom

      Fletcher, Ted (Darlington)

      McKelvey, William

      Bray, Dr Jeremy

      Foot, Rt Hon Michael

      MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor

      Brown, Hugh D. (Provan)

      Ford, Ben

      Maclennan, Robert

      Brown, Robert C. (Newcastle W)

      Forrester, John

      McMahon, Andrew

      Brown, Ronald W. (Hackney S)

      Foster, Derek

      McNally, Thomas

      Brown, Ron (Edinburgh, Leith)

      Foulkes, George

      McNamara, Kevin

      Buchan, Norman

      Fraser, John (Lambeth, Norwood)

      McWilliam, John

      Callaghan, Rt Hon J. (Cardiff SE)

      Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald

      Magee, Bryan

      Callaghan, Jim (Middleton & P)

      Garrett, John (Norwich S)

      Marks, Kenneth

      Campbell, Ian

      Garrett, W. E. (Wallsend)

      Marshall, David (Gl'sgow,Shettles'n)

      Campbell-Savours, Dale

      Ginsburg, David

      Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole)

      Canavan, Dennis

      Golding, John

      Marshall, Jim (Leicester South)

      Carmichael, Neil

      Gourlay, Harry

      Martin, Michael (Gl'gow, Springb'rn)

      Carter-Jones, Lewis

      Grant, George (Morpeth)

      Mason, Rt Hon Roy

      Clark, Dr David (South Shields)

      Grant, John (Islington C)

      Maxton, John

      Cocks, Rt Hon Michael (Bristol S)

      Hamilton, James (Bothwell)

      Maynard, Miss Joan

      Cohen, Stanley

      Hamilton, W. W. (Central Fife)

      Mellish, Rt Hon Robert

      Coleman, Donald

      Hardy, Peter

      Mikardo, Ian

      Concannon, Rt Hon J. D.

      Harrison, Rt Hon Walter

      Millan, Rt Hon Bruce

      Cook, Robin F.

      Hart, Rt Hon Dame Judith

      Morris, Rt Hon Alfred (Wythenshawe)

      Cowans, Harry

      Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy

      Morris, Rt Hon Charles (Openshaw)

      Craigen, J. M. (Glasgow, Maryhill)

      Haynes, Frank

      Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon)

      Crowther, J. S.

      Healey, Rt Hon Denis

      Moyle, Rt Hon Roland

      Cryer, Bob

      Heffer, Eric S.

      Mulley, Rt Hon Frederick

      Cunliffe, Lawrence

      Hogg, Norman (E Dunbartonshire)

      Newens, Stanley

      Cunningham, George (Islington S)

      Holland, Stuart (L'beth, Vauxhall)

      Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon

      Cunningham, Dr John (Whitehaven)

      Home Robertson, John

      Ogden, Eric

      Dalyell, Tam

      Homewood, William

      O'Halloran, Michael

      Davidson, Arthur

      Hooley, Frank

      O'Neill, Martin

      Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli)

      Horam, John

      Orme, Rt Hon Stanley

      Davies, Ifor (Gower)

      Howell, Rt Hon Denis (B'ham, Sm H)

      Owen, Rt Hon Dr David

      Davis, Clinton (Hackney Central)

      Huckfield, Les

      Palmer, Arthur

      Davis, Terry (B'rm'ham, Stechford)

      Hudson Davies, Gwilym Ednyfed

      Park, George

      Deakins, Eric

      Hughes, Mark (Durham)

      Parker, John

      Dempsey, James

      Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen North)

      Parry, Robert

      Dewar, Donald

      Hughes, Roy (Newport)

      Pavitt, Laurie

      Dixon, Donald

      Janner, Hon Greville

      Powell, Raymond (Ogmore)

      Dobson, Frank

      Jay, Rt Hon Douglas

      Prescott, John

      Dormand, Jack

      John, Brynmor

      Race, Reg

      Douglas, Dick

      Johnson, Walter (Derby South)

      Rees, Rt Hon Merlyn (Leeds South)

      Douglas-Mann, Bruce

      Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rhondda)

      Richardson, Jo

      Dubs, Alfred

      Jones, Barry (East Flint)

      Roberts, Allan (Bootle)

      Duffy, A. E. P.

      Jones, Dan (Burnley)

      Roberts, Ernest (Hackney North)

      Dunn, James A. (Liverpool, Kirkdale)

      Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald

      Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock)

      Robertson, George

      Stallard, A. W.

      Welsh, Michael

      Rooker, J. W.

      Steel, Rt Hon David

      White, Frank R. (Bury & Radcliffe)

      Ross, Ernest (Dundee West)

      Stoddart, David

      White, James (Glasgow, Pollok)

      Rowlands, Ted

      Stott, Roger

      Whitlock, William

      Ryman, John

      Strang, Gavin

      Willey, Rt Hon Frederick

      Sandelson, Neville

      Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton West)

      Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Swansea W)

      Sever, John

      Thomas, Dafydd (Merioneth)

      Wilson, Gordon (Dundee East)

      Sheerman, Barry

      Thomas, Jeffrey (Abertillery)

      Wilson, Rt Hon Sir Harold (Huyton)

      Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert (A'ton-u-L)

      Thomas, Mike (Newcastle East)

      Wilson, William (Coventry SE)

      Shore, Rt Hon Peter (Step and Pop)

      Thomas, Dr Roger (Carmarthen)

      Winnick, David

      Short, Mrs. Renée

      Thorne, Stan (Preston South)

      Woodall, Alec

      Silkin, Rt Hon John (Deptford)

      Tilley, John

      Woolmer, Kenneth

      Silkin, Rt Hon S. C. (Dulwich)

      Torney, Tom

      Wrigglesworth, Ian

      Silverman, Julius

      Varley, Rt Hon Eric G.

      Wright, Sheila

      Smith, Rt Hon J. (North Lanarkshire)

      Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley)

      Snape, Peter

      Walker, Rt Hon Harold (Doncaster)

      TELLERS FOR THE AYES

      Soley, Clive

      Watkins, David

      Mr. James Tinn and Mr. George Morton

      Spearing, Nigel

      Weetch, Ken

      Spriggs, Leslie

      Wellbeloved, James

      NOES

      Adley, Robert

      Crouch, David

      Howells, Geraint

      Aitken, Jonathan

      Dean, Paul (North Somerset)

      Hunt, David (Wirral)

      Alexander, Richard

      Dickens, Geoffrey

      Hunt, John (Ravensbourne)

      Alton, David

      Dorrell, Stephen

      Hurd, Hon Douglas

      Arnold, Tom

      Dover, Denshore

      Irving, Charles (Cheltenham)

      Aspinwall, Jack

      Dunn, Robert (Dartford)

      Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick

      Atkins, Rt Hon H. (Spelthorne)

      Durant, Tony

      Jessel, Toby

      Atkinson, David (B'mouth, East)

      Eden, Rt Hon Sir John

      Johnson Smith, Geoffrey

      Baker, Kenneth (St. Marylebone)

      Edwards, Rt Hon N. (Pembroke)

      Johnston, Russell (Inverness)

      Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset)

      Eggar, Timothy

      Jopling, Rt Hon Michael

      Beaumont-Dark, Anthony

      Elliott, Sir William

      Joseph, Rt Hon Sir Keith

      Beith, A. J.

      Emery, Peter

      Kaberry, Sir Donald

      Bell, Sir Ronald

      Eyre, Reginald

      Kellett-Bowman, Mrs Etaine

      Bendall, Vivian

      Fairbairn, Nicholas

      Kershaw, Anthony

      Benyon, Thomas (Abingdon)

      Faith, Mrs Sheila

      Kimball, Marcus

      Benyon, W. (Buckingham)

      Farr, John

      King, Rt Kon Tom

      Berry, Hon Anthony

      Fell, Anthony

      Knight, Mrs Jill

      Best, Keith

      Fenner, Mrs Peggy

      Knox, David

      Bevan, David Gilroy

      Finsberg, Geoffrey

      Lang, Ian

      Biffen, Rt Hon John

      Fisher, Sir Nigel

      Latham, Michael

      Biggs-Davison, John

      Fletcher, Alexander (Edinburgh N)

      Lawson, Nigel

      Blackburn, John

      Fletcher-Cooke, Charles

      Lee, John

      Blaker, Peter

      Fookes, Miss Janet

      Le Merchant, Spencer

      Body, Richard

      Forman, Nigel

      Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark

      Bonsor, Sir Nicholas

      Fowler, Rt Hon Norman

      Lester, Jim (Beeston)

      Boscawen, Hon Robert

      Fox, Marcus

      Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland)

      Bottomley, Peter (Woolwich West)

      Fraser, Rt Hon H. (Stafford & St)

      Lloyd, Ian (Havant & Waterloo)

      Bowden, Andrew

      Freud, Clement

      Lloyd, Peter (Fareham)

      Boyson, Dr Rhodes

      Fry, Peter

      Loveridge, John

      Bradford, Rev. R.

      Galbraith, Hon T. G. D.

      Luce, Richard

      Bralne, Sir Bernard

      Gardiner, George (Reigate)

      Macfarlane, Neil

      Bright, Graham

      Gardner, Edward (South Fylde)

      MacGregor, John

      Brinton, Tim

      Glyn, Dr Alan

      MacKay, John (Argyll)

      Brittan, Leon

      Goodhart, Philip

      McNair-Wilson, Michael (Newbury)

      Brocklebank-Fowler, Christopher

      Gorst, John

      McNair-Wilson, Patrick (New Forest)

      Brooke, Hon Peter

      Gow, Ian

      McQuarrie, Albert

      Brotherton, Michael

      Gower, Sir Raymond

      Madel, David

      Brown, Michael (Brigg & Sc'thorpe)

      Greenway, Harry

      Major, John

      Browne, John (Winchester)

      Grieve, Percy

      Marland, Paul

      Bruce-Gardyne, John

      Griffiths, Eldon (Bury St Edmunds)

      Marlow, Antony

      Bryan, Sir Paul

      Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N)

      Marshall, Michael (Arundel)

      Buchanan-Smith, Hon Alick

      Grist, Ian

      Marten, Neil (Banbury)

      Buck, Antony

      Grylls, Michael

      Mather, Carol

      Budgen, Nick

      Gummer, John Selwyn

      Maude, Rt Hon Angus

      Bulmer, Esmond

      Hamilton, Hon Archie (Eps'm&Ew'll)

      Mawby, Ray

      Burden, F. A.

      Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury)

      Mawhinney, Dr Brian

      Butcher, John

      Hampson, Dr Keith

      Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin

      Butler, Hon Adam

      Hannam, John

      Mayhew, Patrick

      Cadbury, Jocelyn

      Haselhurst, Alan

      Mellor, David

      Carlisle, John (Luton West)

      Hastings, Stephen

      Meyer, Sir Anthony

      Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln)

      Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael

      Miller, Hal (Bromsgrove & Redditch)

      Carlisle, Rt Hon Mark (Runcorn)

      Hawksley, Warren

      Mills, Iain (Meriden)

      Chalker, Mrs. Lynda

      Heddle, John

      Mills, Peter (West Devon)

      Channon, Paul

      Henderson, Barry

      Miscampbell, Norman

      Chapman, Sydney

      Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael

      Mitchell, David (Basingstoke)

      Clark, Hon Alan (Plymouth, Sutton)

      Hicks, Robert

      Moate, Roger

      Clark, Sir William (Croydon South)

      Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L.

      Molyneaux, James

      Clarke, Kenneth (Rushclifte)

      Hill, James

      Monro, Hector

      Cockeram, Eric

      Hooson, Tom

      Montgomery, Fergus

      Colvin, Michael

      Hordern, Peter

      Moore, John

      Corrie, John

      Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey

      Morgan, Geraint

      Costain, A. P.

      Howell, Rt Hon David (Guildford)

      Morris, Michael (Northampton, Sth)

      Critchley, Julian

      Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk)

      Morrison, Hon Charles (Devizes)

      890

      891

      Morrison, Hon Peter (City of Chester)

      Ross, Wm. (Londonderry)

      Thompson, Donald

      Mudd, David

      Rost, Peter

      Thorne, Neil (Ilford South)

      Murphy, Christopher

      Royle, Sir Anthony

      Thornton, Malcolm

      Myles, David

      Sainsbury, Hon Timothy

      Townend, John (Bridlington)

      Neale, Gerrard

      Scott, Nicholas

      Townsend, Cyril D. (Bexleyheath)

      Nelson, Anthony

      Shaw, Giles (Pudsey)

      Trippier, David

      Neubert, Michael

      Shaw, Michael (Scarborough)

      Trotter, Neville

      Newton, Tony

      Shelton, William (Streatham)

      van Straubenzee, W. R.

      Normanton, Tom

      Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)

      Vaughan, Dr Gerard

      Osborn, John

      Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge-Br'hills)

      Viggers, Peter

      Page, John (Harrow, West)

      Shersby, Michael

      Waddington, David

      Page, Rt Hon Sir R. Graham

      Silvester, Fred

      Wakeham, John

      Page, Richard (SW Hertfordshire)

      Sims, Roger

      Walker, Rt Hon Peter (Worcester)

      Paisley, Rev Ian

      Skeet, T. H. H.

      Walker, Bill (Perth & E Perthshire)

      Parris, Matthew

      Smith, Cyril (Rochdale)

      Walker-Smith, Rt Hon Sir Derek

      Pawsey, James

      Speed, Keith

      Wall, Patrick

      Penhaligon, David

      Speller, Tony

      Waller, Gary

      Percival, Sir Ian

      Spence, John

      Walters, Dennis

      Peyton, Rt Hon John

      Spicer, Jim (West Dorset)

      Ward, John

      Pink, R. Bonner

      Spicer, Michael (S Worcestershire)

      Warren, Kenneth

      Porter, George

      Sproat, Iain

      Wells, John (Maidstone)

      Powell, Rt Hon J. Enoch (S Down)

      Squire, Robin

      Wells, Bowen (Hert'rd & Stev'nage)

      Price, David (Eastleigh)

      Stainton, Keith

      Wheeler, John

      Proctor, K. Harvey

      Stanbrook, Ivor

      Whitelaw, Rt Hon William

      Pym, Rt Hon Francis

      Stanley, John

      Whitney, Raymond

      Raison, Timothy

      Steen, Anthony

      Wickenden, Keith

      Rathbone, Tim

      Stevens, Martin

      Wiggin, Jerry

      Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal)

      Stewart, Ian (Hitchin)

      Williams, Delwyn (Montgomery)

      Rees-Davies, W. R.

      Stewart, John (East Renfrewshire)

      Winterton, Nicholas

      Renton, Tim

      Stokes, John

      Wolfson, Mark

      Rhodes James, Robert

      Stradling Thomas, J.

      Young, Sir George (Acton)

      Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon

      Tapsell, Peter

      Younger, Rt Hon George

      Ridley, Hon Nicholas

      Taylor, Robert (Croydon NW)

      Rifkind, Malcolm

      Tebbit, Norman

      TELLERS FOR THE NOES:

      Roberts, Wyn (Conway)

      Temple-Morris, Peter

      Lord James Douglas-Hamilton and Mr. John Cope.

      Robinson, Peter (Belfast East)

      Thatcher, Rt Hon Mrs Margaret

      Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight)

      Thomas, Rt Hon Peter (Hendon S)

      Question accordingly negatived.

  Schedule 1
  LIMITS ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER INDUSTRY ACT 1972 SECTION 8
  Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I beg to move amendment No. 26, in page 10, line 40, at end insert—
  '5. In subsection (8) of that section the proviso shall be left out.'
  I shall not delay the House for long. The amendment concerns a matter of considerable importance relating to parliamentary accountability. I aired this issue on Second Reading and I explained the nature of my anxiety at that time.
  The purpose of the amendment is to eliminate a proviso inserted in the Industry Act 1972. Right hon. and hon. Members who were in the House at that time will recall that when section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 was going through the House, a large number of my right hon. and hon. Friends were alarmed at its implications. Eventually they prevailed upon the then Government and the Ministers responsible, Mr. Christopher Chataway and my late predecessor, Mr. John Davies, that in any case where the Government proposed to offer to a project assistance amounting to more than
  892
  £5 million under the terms o section 8 of the Industry Act, that provision should be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.
  I remind my right hon. and hon. Friends that Mr. Chataway said on 31 July 1972:
  "under Clause 8 the Government shall have to come to the House to secure an Affirmative Resolution in the case of any project which exceeds £5 million."—[Official Report, 31 July 1972; Vol. 842, c. 257.]
  But it has not worked out that way. This is precisely the point that concerns me. At that time the Government very mistakenly were allowed to insert an additional proviso—the one at which this amendment is directed. That proviso was designed to ensure that where
  "the Secretary of State is satisfied that the payment or undertaking is urgently needed at a time when it is impracticable to obtain the approval of the Commons House of Parliament; and in that case the Secretary of State shall lay a statement concerning the financial assistance before each House of Parliament."
  I really do not believe that anybody who listened to our debates at that time could conceivably have imagined, from anything that was said from the Government Front Bench, that over the next seven years the biggest projects of assistance granted under section 8 would

  893
  pass through without one word of discussion, explanation or debate in the House.
  I cite some examples so that hon. Members will understand what I mean. The first one—
  Mr. Eric S. Heffer (Liverpool, Walton): Put in a prayer.
  Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: If the hon. Member really wants to intervene, perhaps he might rise to his feet. If he really thinks that I could put in a prayer, he shows lamentable ignorance of the proceedings of the House. One cannot pray against a statement lodged in the Library. The hon. Gentleman should not try to put that one over.
  The first occasion that I can trace when this proviso was used as a let-out was in the case of a grant of £10·3 million to the Mobil Oil Company in respect of a fluid catalytic cracker at Coryton, Essex, in 1976. Not one word of explanation was given to the House. When the House resumed in October of that year, a statement was deposited in the Library. Nothing more was heard.
  In 1978 the previous Government decided to put the taxpayer into a development by Hoffman Laroche at Dairy in Ayrshire. On that occasion the amount was up to £18 million—more than three times the limit laid down by Parliament. There was no debate or statement in the House. There was not one word of discussion, and the matter does not even appear in Hansard. All that happened was that once again a statement was put in the Library of the House on the ground that the House had not been sitting—most conveniently—when the money was awarded.
  The latest occasion occurred only last summer. The biggest-ever grant was given under section 8 of the Industry Act, under the provisions of a section that the House said was to be used only for projects of more than £5 million, subject to affirmative resolution. Once more, a grant of £18·25 million was given to the Dow Corning giant of America, without a word of explanation to the House.
  11 pm
  Whatever else we intended in July 1972, we did not intend that. That is why I have put down this amendment. I do not think that we can go on in this way. I do not think that this is the way
  894
  in which the Department of Industry should deem to treat the House of Commons.
  My hon. Friends may say that the precise wording of the amendment is unacceptable on the ground that genuine urgency might arise when the House is not sitting. I understand that point. I hope that in reply to this brief debate we may have an assurance that never again will sums of this magnitude be given, in clear contravention of the intention of the House seven years ago, without a proper explanation as soon the House resumes. I hope that an assurance may be given that we shall put an end to the apparent practice of using the parliamentary recesses to squiggle through vast commitments of this sort.
  I suggest that this is a matter of some importance from the point of view of parliamentary scrutiny of the Administration—of all Administrations. It is a matter in which Labour Members have no right to take satisfaction. They have misbehaved twice so far. My right hon. and hon. Friends have misbehaved only once, and I hope that they do not misbehave again.
  On that basis, I commend the amendment to the House.
  Mr. Alexander Fletcher: I fully appreciate that my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) feels strongly about this point. He has been persistent in his arguments for some time. His amendment concerns a practical measure which the Government utilise from time to time. I am sure that when he said that the Government might squiggle, my hon. Friend was not suggesting that his and my right hon. Friend would use that measure dishonourably or try to conjure up a situation in which the arrangements to give assistance to a company would be held over until a recess, so that we could take advantage of the absence of hon. Members from the House.
  Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I can only say that I have noticed that the three largest projects of individual assistance which have ever been given under section 8 of the Industry Act have somehow occurred in those circumstances.
  Mr. Fletcher: The House rises for about one-third of the year, so it is not.

  895
  surprising that some of these actions are necessary during that period. Glancing quickly at the list of moneys that have been made available under section 8 of the Industry Act, I do not believe that the projects to which my hon. Friend referred are the largest. I am not suggesting that they are not large amounts of money, but it is a slight exaggeration to say that they are the three largest.
  Mr. Budgen: May I make a helpful suggestion? So that everyone can be fully aware of what is happening, is it possible to follow the practice of having all the unpleasant statements on the day before the House rises, with no possibility of debating them, and also to arrange, so that everyone can be sure of noting the fact, that all the orders are dealt with the day after the House rises, whenever there is that sort of business?
  Mr. Fletcher: I believe that my hon. Friend is suggesting that industry should also go into recess for three months of the year. That is what would happen if we were to meet the requirements of the Act in that regard.
  As my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford knows, the proviso has been called into play on very few occasions since 1972, the most recent being that of Dow Corning, when a statement was laid on 22 October 1979. As my hon. Friend will know because of the correspondence that he exchanged with the Department, the circumstances of the case were such that an urgent decision was required during the Summer Recess, and a further delay would have meant that the project went outside the United Kingdom. These are clearly matters during the recess which the Government must take account. We believe that the actions were justified by circumstances and fully in accord with the procedure laid down under the Act.
  My hon. Friend asked for an assurance that it will not happen again. It is quite impractical to give that assurance, for the reasons that I have outlined. We cannot disregard the fact, with all due respect to my Friend's view, that during the next parliamentary recess another such opportunity could arise to support investment in the United Kingdom.
  896
  We do not expect to make great use of the proviso, but it is an essential part of the Industry Act. We clearly intend that it must be used sparingly, on appropriate occasions. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that it is not the purpose of the provision to rob the House of its power or authority. However, it enables us to support important investments at whatever time of the year the issue may arise. As I suggested earlier, we do not conjure up opportunities to suit the timing of our sittings, but we have to have the facility available.
  I am sorry to disappoint my hon. Friend, but I am afraid that I must invite the House to reject the amendment.
  Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I listened with care to my Friend's reply. I do not necessarily consider that dunning our constituent taxpayers for tens of millions of pounds should always be regarded as an opportunity. I can think of other terms that might sometimes be more appropriate.
  Mr. Alexander Fletcher: I was referring to an opportunity to support investment in the United Kingdom and not to do my hon. Friend out of the opportunity to debate the issue in the House.
  Mr. Bruce-Gardyne: I assure my hon. Friend that I shall seize every opportunity for debate, wherever and whenever such a provision is exercised.
  I understand my Friend's proposition. I accept that there may be unavoidable circumstances in which it is necessary to act during a recess, but I hope that we shall never again see a situation where the biggest projects somehow go through during a recess and the tiddlers are left to be debated in Parliament. That is not the way that it should be done.
  On that basis, with considerable reluctance—[Interruption.] I find it deplorable that right hon. and hon. Gentlemen should regard the expenditure of tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money as a matter for hilarity. [HON. MEMBERS: "Vote, vote."] Before that rude interruption, I was about to say that, in those circumstances, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
  Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

  New Clause 1
  FINANCE FOR COMPANIES TRANSFERRED TO SECRETARY OF STATE
  ".—(1) This section applies to a company if the National Enterprise Board has at any time transferred to the Secretary of State a controlling interest in the company and the Secretary of State has not since that time ceased to hold such an interest in it.
  (2) Subject to subsection (3) below and section 4 of this Act, the Secretary of State may with the approval of the Treasury:

  (a) acquire securities of a company to which this section applies,

  (b) make loans to such a company on such conditions and at such rates of interest as he may with that approval determine, and

  (c) guarantee obligations (arising out of loans or otherwise) incurred by such a company.

  (3) The Secretary of State shall not determine a rate of interest in respect of a loan under subsection (2)(b) above which is lower than the lowest rate for the time being determined by the Treasury under section 5 of the National Loans Act 1968 in respect of comparable loans out of the National Loans Fund.
  (4) Not later than six months after the end of any financial year in which this section has applied to one or more companies the Secretary of State shall prepare and lay before each House of Parliament a report on the exercise during that year of his powers under subsection (2) above; and the report shall specify in relation to each company which at the end of that year is a company to which this section applies:

  (a) particulars of the securities of the company held by the Secretary of State at the end of that year,

  (b) the amount then outstanding, otherwise than by way of interest, in respect of any loans to the company made under paragraph (b) of subsection (2) above,

  (c) particulars of guarantees then subsisting which were given under paragraph (c) of that subsection in respect of obligations incurred by the company, and

  (d) any sums paid to meet guarantees so given, to the extent that they have not by then been repaid.

  (5) As soon as practicable after the holding of any general meeting of a company to which this section applies, the Secretary of State shall lay before each House of Parliament a copy of any accounts which, in accordance with any requirement of the Companies Acts 1948 to 1980, are laid before the company at that meeting, and of any documents which are annexed or attached to any such accounts.
  (6) Any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State under subsection (2) above may be defrayed out of money provided by Parliament; and any sums received by him by virtue of this section (including sums received on the disposal of securities acquired by virtue of this section) shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
  (7) In this section and in section 4 of this Act:

  "company" means a company within the meaning of the Companies Act 1948 or the Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960,

  "controlling interest" means, in relation to a company shares carrying in the aggregate more than half the voting rights exercisable at general meetings of the company,

  "shares" includes stock,

  "subsidiary" means a subsidiary as defined by section 154 of the said Act of 1948 or section 148 of the said Act of 1960, and references to the transfer of securities to or the holding or acquisition of securities by the Secretary of State include references to the transfer of securities to or the holding or acquisition of securities by any nominee of his.".—[Mr. David Mitchell.]

  Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.

  New Clause 2
  ADVICE FOR BUSINESSES
  (1) The Secretary of State may make provision for the giving of advice (whether free of charge of otherwise) to persons carrying on or proposing to carry on a business.
  (2) Any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State by virtue of this section may be defrayed out of money provided by Parliament.'.—[Mr. David Mitchell.]
  Brought up, and read the First time.
  Mr. David Mitchell: I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
  Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bernard Weatherill): With this, it will be convenient to take the following:
  The amendment to the new clause: at end add—
  '(3) Not later than six months after the end of any financial year in which this power is used the Secretary of State shall prepare and lay before Parliament a report on the exercise during the year of his powers under this section.'.
  Government amendment No. 33.
  Mr. Mitchell: In accordance with an undertaking given to the Public Accounts Committee in 1932, it is an established principle that the authority of the annual Appropriation Act should not be relied on for a continuing activity. Our legal advice, which was not finally determined until recently, is that statutory authority is now needed for the counselling service that has recently become an established feature of the Department's small firms services.
  The new clause does not refer specifically to the small firms service and in

  899
  principle is not limited to it. This is because any definition of a small firm would be arbitrary and would probably be complex, because it would have to cover new enterprises. It is, however, towards the small firms sector that the Department's advisory services are, and will continue to be, directed. The House will be aware that we regard small businesses as the seed corn from which our future enterprises will grow. We have far too few of them in this country. Those that start we cannot afford to lose.
  Too many of those who start fall by the wayside because of a lack of knowledge or skill or expertise in the hands of those who started them. People who have a particular skill may start a business, but they may not have the skill of financial management, of marketing or some other skill. The availability of counselling services has proved to be a greatly effective and cost-effective way in which to help such enterprises. Because we regard them as precious, and because we are anxious to ensure that as many as possible succeed and grow, I have pleasure in commending the clause to the House.
  We can accept the amendment. We shall happily furnish to Parliament an annual report on the operations of the service. However, because it is a confidential service between counsellor and client, the report will of necessity be in broad terms of numbers, types of case and cost. It will not be possible to furnish details of individual cases. I hope, therefore, that the House will feel able to accept the clause and the amendment.
  Mr. Robert Rhodes James: I shall speak briefly in extremely strong support of the new clause. Hon. Members may remember that my maiden speech was made on this subject three years ago. It may seem longer to some hon. Members. There is a great need for assistance and advice to small businesses, particularly new businesses. The new clause represents a positive contribution and encouragement by the Government. If the advice centres and organisations are to be set up in any city, I recommend at random the city of Cambridge. I therefore welcome the new clause as it represents a positive contribution to the problems of small businesses, particularly new businesses.
  11.15 pm
  Mr. Robert Taylor: Only once before, since I came here in 1970, have I been asked to sign a blank cheque, and I have regretted doing so ever since. Right hon. and hon. Members on the Labour side have never let me or my hon. Friends forget that occasion—the passage of the infamous Industry Act of 1972. In the new clause, I am being asked to repeat the exercise.
  Whatever my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary says about the limitation of the clause, if my other hon. Friends study it they will realise that it has wide implications. It says:
  "—

  (1) The Secretary of State may make provision for the giving of advice (whether free of charge or otherwise) to persons carrying on or proposing to carry on a business.

  (2) Any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State by virtue of this section may be defrayed out of money provided by Parliament."

  That leaves the door wide open to expenditure over a very wide area. It is in no way limited to the small firms counselling service as my hon. Friend suggested.
  My hon. Friend gave no indication of the cost of the service to date. I am a small business man, but I have never found that the clearing banks were unable to give me the advice and information that I required. Certainly, I have never found it necessary to turn to any branch of the Civil Service or any volunteers, such as those who man the small firms counselling service.
  One company that received advice is being used as an example of how beneficial the service is. In The Birmingham Post of 1 February this year, under the headline
  "Boost to confidence ends in expansion",
  there appeared the following:
  "At the tender age of 30, Mr. Barry Thomas was a trifle reluctant to approach bank managers when he wanted to expand his forklift truck business."
  At the age of 30!
  "But the support of a small business service counsellor gave him confidence that he was doing the right thing."
  We also learn that although Mr. Thomas is now employing only five people he very much hopes that in 12 months' time he will have doubled the total, and we are given the following valuable piece of information, which is an example of

  901
  the expenditure that we are being asked to approve:
  "Now the counsellor calls about every month to see how the business is progressing."
  How many counsellors shall we put on the books by approving the clause?
  I understand that there will be no Division on the clause—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?] Perhaps my hon. Friends will allow me to finish the sentence. I understand that there will be no Division called by Opposition right hon. and hon. Members. I never expected them to divide the House on this issue. It is manna from heaven for them; it is what they stand for. If I can find an hon. Friend to support me, I shall certainly divide the House against this ridiculous measure.
  Mr. Budgen: My hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North-West (Mr. Taylor) argued his case on the ground of expense and the ridiculous nannying that counsellors would give to robust small business men. Although I much enjoyed what he said, I found it difficult to concentrate on it, because I was shocked at the way in which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary had advocated the clause. He said that the Tory Party was in favour of small businesses; therefore, any form of counselling, nannying or State support must be in order for small businesses. What difference is there between that and the Labour Party saying We like manufacturing industry and, therefore, any form of State support is in order for manufacturing industry"?
  The whole thrust of the Conservative Party's election campaign was that we wished to roll back the power of the State. We were saying not that we wished to make divisions between one interest and another but that we wanted to enhance the role of the individual citizen and to have less counselling, less interference and less of the proposition that the State knows best.
  Let us look at the consequences of this counselling. It will be the National Enterprise Board on a tiny scale. In just the same way as the NEB competes with merchant banks, so will this system of counselling compete on a subsidised basis with accountants, management consultants and solicitors. But the individual citizen who has the benefit of this free or subsidised service will not have the
  902
  right to sue which he has against a professional man. It is the old, old political fiddle. When the advice goes wrong and the chap comes limping away from his bank having borrowed too much money, he will say he has had bad advice. He will go to see his Member of Parliament, who will put a squeeze on the Department of Industry, and so the taxpayer will ultimately have to pick up an even bigger bill.
  Let us remember how Rolls-Royce came into the public sector. That was as a consequence of taking bad advice from the Government of the day. The Government later said that they did not agree with the way in which their predecessors had leant upon Rolls-Royce to enter into disadvantageous contracts in America, but they accepted that they were under a moral obligation to support the company. That is the way in which the tentacles of the State go out into our society.
  This highly objectionable clause has been introduced without the nation having an opportunity to consider it. It has implications for our professions. It is no coincidence that the chambers of commerce have written a vigorous letter to every Member of Parliament protesting about the clause. The professional associations should have had an opportunity to make representations to the Government about the clause.
  When the counselling service has become a substantial bureaucracy in two years' time, and the solicitors, accountants and management consultants are complaining to the Government, the Government will blandly say that they will make charges for the services, and they will say to the professional bodies "Let it be understood, the issue of principle has already been decided by the House of Commons". In that way, the thin end of the wedge is inserted. Let us recognise the situation. In the fashionable term, it is only an acorn, but it will grow into a disagreeable oak if we are not careful.
  Dr. John Cunningham: We are a little puzzled about what is going on, but we think that it is called "intervention". I hesitate to say this, but this is almost intervention by quango. We believe that the Minister accepts our amendment in order to ensure

  903
  a majority in the Lobby. We welcome the new clause. It contains provisions which were never mentioned in Committee. It is an eleventh-hour acceptance, but it is welcome. We also welcome the Government's acceptance of our amendment, which will ensure some accountability for expenditure by Parliament and the country.
  Mr. David Mitchell: I hope that the support for the hon. Member for White-haven (Dr. Cunningham) will not prove too damaging. I have been asked several questions and I shall do my best to answer them.
  My hon. Friend the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West (Mr. Taylor) asked why expenditure was not limited to small firms. The difficulty is one of definition. It is particularly difficult because many people who are thinking of starting a business do not know how to go about it. The total cost of the service is £600,000. The counsellors who give advice are not civil servants but experienced business men who give their advice because they believe that they are providing a valuable service.
  If people starting up in business were not able to turn to someone for advice, they would flounder and be lost. We are sure that it is in the national interest that they should be able to continue to grow. There are 110 counsellors. My hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen) was shocked too easily. He has been shocked on a number of other occasions. He said that there had been inadequate time for discussion. The small firms service was started in 1976. There have been several discussions in the House. I am sorry that my hon. Friend was not present when small businesses were discussed.
  Mr. Budgen: Why was the new clause not inserted in the Bill at the beginning so that everybody could know what was happening?
  Mr. Mitchell: There has been no change, because the system has, until now, been financed out of the appropriation account. An undertaking given in 1932 provides that when a private scheme becomes more permanent it should not go on to the appropriation account. For that reason, we seek to regularise the financial arrangement.
  Mr. Budgen: My hon. Friend has not answered my argument. If all that was known before the Second Reading of the Bill, why was the provision not inserted?
  Mr. Mitchell: There was something of an inheritance from Labour Members, who should have recognised the need. We did not recognise the need immediately. It was brought to our attention during the Committee stage. We have brought it to the House at the first opportunity. I hope that the House is pleased.
  11.30 pm
  The question of British chambers of commerce was raised. They believe that they could provide a similar service. When I discussed the matter with them, I discovered that they believed that they could provide the advice centre services but not the counselling service, as chambers are situated only in some parts of the country. There are divided views within the chambers on whether they should give advice to non-members based upon the finance and the contributions and subscriptions of their members.
  My hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West said he understood that it was the purpose of the Conservative Government to roll back the power of the State. Yes, so it is. But it is our intention—to use a phrase that you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, coined—to plant acorns from which oaks will grow. We want to ensure that those who come out of, and the resources that are freed from, the State sector are mobilised with new businesses which will grow up.
  Dr. John Cunningham: I am trying to help the Minister, in spite of what he thinks. That is the trouble. Does he expect the House to believe that this matter came to light only during the passage of the Bill? If so, why did he say that the previous Administration should have dealt with it? In view of his remarks about the chambers of commerce, would he like to comment on their comment that the powers given are extensive and unfettered by any requirements to be laid before Parliament? Is that why he is accepting our amendment?
  Mr. Mitchell: It would have been open to the previous Government to have regularised the position. We regularised it as soon as we had it brought to our attention. I give this assurance. It was

  905
  brought to our attention only after the Bill had had its Second Reading and was in Committee. [Hon Members: "Who by?"] By our officials within the Department.
  It is our intention not to nanny British industry but to help and encourage the birth of more businesses. The sooner they can stand on their own feet, the better. In view of that, I hope that my hon. Friend will be able to accept the assurances
  that I gave, together with acceptance of the amendment that will ensure a report to the House. That will mean that he has the opportunity of studying and discussing the matter. On that basis, I hope that the House will be able to accept the amendment.
  Question put, That the clause be read a Second time: —
  The House divided: Ayes 269, Noes 8.

  Division No. 164]

  AYES

  [11.33 pm

  Adley, Robert

  Faith, Mrs Sheila

  Lawson, Nigel

  Aitken, Jonathan

  Farr, John

  Lee, John

  Alexander, Richard

  Fenner, Mrs Peggy

  Le Marchant, Spencer

  Alton, David

  Finsberg, Geoffrey

  Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark

  Ancram, Michael

  Fisher, Sir Nigel

  Lester, Jim (Beeston)

  Arnold, Tom

  Fletcher, Alexander (Edinburgh N)

  Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland)

  Aspinwall, Jack

  Fletcher-Cooke, Charles

  Lloyd, Peter (Fareham)

  Atkins, Rt Hon H. (Spelthorne)

  Fookes, Miss Janet

  Loveridge, John

  Atkinson, David (B'mouth, East)

  Forman, Nigel

  Luce, Richard

  Baker, Kenneth (St. Marylebone)

  Fox, Marcus

  Lyell, Nicholas

  Beaumont-Dark, Anthony

  Fraser, Rt Hon H. (Stafford & St)

  Macfarlane, Neil

  Beith, A. J.

  Fraser, Peter (South Angus)

  MacGregor, John

  Bell, Sir Ronald

  Fry, Peter

  MacKay, John (Argyll)

  Bendall, Vivian

  Galbraith, Hon T. G. D.

  McNair-Wilson, Michael (Newbury)

  Benyon, Thomas (Abingdon)

  Gardiner George (Reigate)

  McNair-Wilson, Patrick (New Forest)

  Benyon, W. (Buckingham)

  Gardner, Edward (South Fylde)

  McQuarrie, Albert

  Berry, Hon Anthony

  Garel-Jones, Tristan

  Madel, David

  Best, Keith

  Glyn, Dr Alan

  Major, John

  Bevan, David Gilroy

  Goodhart, Philip

  Marland, Paul

  Biffen, Rt Hon John

  Gorst, John

  Marshall, Michael (Arundel)

  Biggs-Davison, John

  Gow, Ian

  Marten, Neil (Banbury)

  Blaker, Peter

  Gower, Sir Raymond

  Mather, Carol

  Bonsor, Sir Nicholas

  Greenway, Harry

  Maude, Rt Hon Angus

  Bottomley, Peter (Woolwich West)

  Grieve, Percy

  Mawby, Ray

  Bowden, Andrew

  Griffiths, Eldon (Bury St Edmunds)

  Mawhinney, Dr Brian

  Boyson, Dr Rhodes

  Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N)

  Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin

  Braine, Sir Bernard

  Grist, Ian

  Mayhew, Patrick

  Bright, Graham

  Grylls, Michael

  Mellor, David

  Brinton, Tim

  Gummer, John Selwyn

  Meyer, Sir Anthony

  Brittan, Leon

  Hamilton, Hon Archie (Eps'm&Ew'll)

  Miller, Hal (Bromsgrove & Redditch)

  Brocklebank-Fowler, Christopher

  Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury)

  Mills, Iain (Meriden)

  Brooke, Hon Peter

  Hampson, Dr Keith

  Mills, Peter (West Devon)

  Browne, John (Winchester)

  Hannam, John

  Miscampbell, Norman

  Bryan, Sir Paul

  Haselhurst, Alan

  Mitchell, David (Basingstoke)

  Buchanan-Smith, Hon Alick

  Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael

  Moate, Roger

  Buck, Antony

  Heddle, John

  Monro, Hector

  Bulmer, Esmond

  Henderson, Barry

  Montgomery, Fergus

  Butcher, John

  Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael

  Moore, John

  Butler, Hon Adam

  Hicks, Robert

  Morgan, Geraint

  Cadbury, Jocelyn

  Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L.

  Morris, Michael (Northampton, Sth)

  Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln)

  Hill, James

  Morrison, Hon Charles (Devizes)

  Carlisle, Rt Hon Mark (Runcorn)

  Hogg, Hon Douglas (Grantham)

  Mudd, David

  Chalker, Mrs. Lynda

  Hooson, Tom

  Neale, Gerrard

  Channon, Paul

  Hordern, Peter

  Needham, Richard

  Clark, Hon Alan (Plymouth, Sutton)

  Howell, Rt Hon David (Guildford)

  Nelson, Anthony

  Clark, Sir William (Croydon South)

  Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk)

  Neubert, Michael

  Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe)

  Howells, Geraint

  Newton, Tony

  Cockeram, Eric

  Hunt, David (Wirral)

  Normanton, Tom

  Colvin, Michael

  Hunt, John (Ravensbourne)

  Page, John (Harrow, West)

  Cope, John

  Hurd, Hon Douglas

  Page, Rt Hon Sir R. Graham

  Costain, A. P.

  Irving, Charles (Cheltenham)

  Page, Richard (SW Hertfordshire)

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick

  Parris, Matthew

  Critchley, Julian

  Jessel, Toby

  Patten, Christopher (Bath)

  Crouch, David

  Johnson Smith, Geoffrey

  Patten, John (Oxford)

  Oean, Paul (North Somerset)

  Johnston, Russell (Inverness)

  Pawsey, James

  Dickens, Geoffrey

  Jopling, Rt Hon Michael

  Penhaligon, David

  Dorrell, Stephen

  Joseph, Rt Hon Sir Keith

  Percival, Sir Ian

  du Cann, Rt Hon Edward

  Kaberry, Sir Donald

  Pink, R. Bonner

  Dunn, Robert (Dartford)

  Kellett-Bowman, Mrs Elaine

  Porter, George

  Durant, Tony

  Kershaw, Anthony

  Price, David (Eastleigh)

  Edwards, Rt Hon N. (Pembroke)

  Kimball, Marcus

  Pym, Rt Hon Francis

  Eggar, Timothy

  King, Rt Hon Tom

  Raison, Timothy

  Elliott, Sir William

  Knight, Mrs Jill

  Rathbone, Tim

  Emery, Peter

  Knox, David

  Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal)

  Eyre, Reginald

  Lang, Ian

  Rees-Davies, W. R.

  Fairbairn, Nicholas

  Latham, Michael

  Renton, Tim

  Rhodes James, Robert

  Spicer, Michael (S Worcestershire)

  Viggers, Peter

  Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon

  Sproat, lain

  Waddington, David

  Ridley, Hon Nicholas

  Squire, Robin

  Wakeham, John

  Rifkind, Malcolm

  Stainton, Keith

  Waldegrave, Hon William

  Roberts, Wyn (Conway)

  Stanbrook, Ivor

  Walker, Rt Hon Peter (Worcester)

  Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight)

  Stanley, John

  Walker, Bill (Perth & E Perthshire)

  Rost, Peter

  Steel, Rt Hon David

  Walker-Smith, Rt Hon Sir Derek

  Royle, Sir Anthony

  Steen, Anthony

  Waller, Gary

  Sainsbury, Hon Timothy

  Stevens, Martin

  Walters, Dennis

  St. John-Stevas, Rt Hon Norman

  Stewart, Ian (Hitchin)

  Warren, Kenneth

  Scott, Nicholas

  Stewart, John (East Renfrewshire)

  Watson, John

  Shaw, Giles (Pudsey)

  Stokes, John

  Wells, Bowen (Hert'rd & Stev'nage)

  Shaw, Michael (Scarborough)

  Stradling Thomas, J.

  Whitelaw, Rt Hon William

  Shelton, William (Streatham)

  Tapsell, Peter

  Whitney, Raymond

  Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)

  Tebbit, Norman

  Wickenden, Keith

  Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge-Br'hills)

  Temple-Morris, Peter

  Wiggin, Jerry

  Shersby, Michael

  Thatcher, Rt Hon Mrs Margaret

  Williams, Delwyn (Montgomery)

  Silvester, Fred

  Thomas, Rt Hon Peter (Hendon S)

  Wilson, Gordon (Dundee East)

  Sims, Roger

  Thompson, Donald

  Wolfson, Mark

  Skeet, T. H. H.

  Thorne, Nell (llford South)

  Young, Sir George (Acton)

  Smith, Cyril (Rochdale)

  Thornton, George

  Speed, Keith

  Townsend, Cyril D. (Bexleyheath)

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES:

  Speller, Tony

  Trippier, David

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton and Mr. Peter Morrison.

  Spence, John

  van Straubenzee, W. R.

  Spicer, Jim (West Dorset)

  Vaughan, Dr Gerard

  NOES

  Body, Richard

  Carlisle, John (Luton West)

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES

  Brotherton, Michael

  Proctor, K. Harvey

  Mr. Robert Taylor and Mr. Clement Freud.

  Brown, Michael (Brigg & Sc'thorpe)

  Townend, John (Bridlington)

  Budgen, Nick

  Winterton, Nicholas

  Question accordingly agreed to.
  Clause read a Second time.
  Amendment made to the clause: at end add—
  "(3) Not later than six months after the end of any financial year in which this power is used the Secretary of State shall prepare and lay before Parliament a report on the exercise during the year of his powers under this section."—[Dr. John Cunningham.]
  Clause, as amended, added to the Bill.

  Schedule 2
  REPEALS
  Amendments made: No. 29, in page 14, line 43, column 3, at end insert—
  "In section 1(11), the words from 'in connection' to 'above'.".
  No. 30, in page 14, leave out line 44.
  No. 31, in page 15, line 15, column 3. at end insert—
  "in paragraph 9(3), the words from 'which clause was' to 'but'.".—[Sir Keith Joseph.]

  Title
  Amendments made: No. 32, in line 4, after "Corporation", insert
  "to authorise the Secretary of State to acquire securities of, make loans to and provide guarantees for companies in which he acquires shares from the National Enterprise Board;".
  No. 33, in line 5, after "1975", insert
  "to authorise the provision by the Secretary of State of an advisory service;".—[Sir Keith Joseph.]
  Sir Keith Joseph: I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.
  Question put: —
  The House divided: Ayes 288, Noes 231.

  Division No. 165]

  AYES

  [11.47 pm

  Adley, Robert

  Biffen, Rt Hon John

  Brotherton, Michael

  Aitken, Jonathan

  Biggs-Davison, John

  Brown, Michael (Brigg & Sc'thorpe)

  Alexander, Richard

  Blackburn, John

  Browne, John (Winchester)

  Ancram, Michael

  Blaker, Peter

  Bruce-Gardyne, John

  Arnold, Tom

  Body, Richard

  Bryan, Sir Paul

  Aspinwall, Jack

  Bonsor, Sir Nicholas

  Buchanan-Smith, Hon Alick

  Atkins, Rt Hon H. (Spelthorne)

  Boscawen, Hon Robert

  Buck, Antony

  Atkinson, David (B'mouth, East)

  Bottomley, Peter (Woolwich West)

  Budgen, Nick

  Baker, Kenneth (St. Marylebone)

  Bowden, Andrew

  Burden, F. A.

  Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset)

  Boyson, Dr Rhodes

  Butcher, John

  Beaumont-Dark, Anthony

  Bradford, Rev. R.

  Butler, Hon Adam

  Bell, Sir Ronald

  Braine, Sir Bernard

  Cadbury, Jocelyn

  Bendall, Vivian

  Bright, Graham

  Carlisle, John (Luton West)

  Benyon, Thomas (Abingdon)

  Brinton, Tim

  Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln)

  Benyon, W. (Buckingham)

  Brittan, Leon

  Carlisle, Rt Hon Mark (Runcorn)

  Best, Keith

  Brocklebank-Fowler, Christopher

  Chalker, Mrs Lynda

  Bevan, David Gilroy

  Brooke, Hon Peter

  Channon, Paul

  Chapman, Sydney

  Jopling, Rt Hon Michael

  Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal)

  Clark, Hon Alan (Plymouth, Sutton)

  Joseph, Rt Hon Sir Keith

  Rees-Davies, W. R.

  Clark, Sir William (Croydon South)

  Kaberry, Sir Donald

  Renton, Tim

  Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe)

  Kellett-Bowman, Mn Elaine

  Rhodes James, Robert

  Cockeram, Eric

  Kershaw, Anthony

  Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon

  Colvin, Michael

  Kimball, Marcus

  Ridley, Hon Nicholas

  Cope, John

  King, Rt Hon Tom

  Rifkind, Malcolm

  Corrie, John

  Knight, Mrs Jill

  Roberts, Wyn (Conway)

  Costain, A. P.

  Knox, David

  Ross, Wm. (Londonderry)

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Lang, Ian

  Rost, Peter

  Critchley, Julian

  Latham, Michael

  Royle, Sir Anthony

  Crouch, David

  Lawson, Nigel

  Sainsbury, Hon Timothy

  Dean, Paul (North Somerset)

  Lee, John

  St. John Stevas, Rt Hon Norman

  Dickens, Geoffrey

  Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark

  Scott, Nicholas

  Dorrell, Stephen

  Lester, Jim (Beeston)

  Shaw, Giles (Pudsey)

  Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James

  Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland)

  Shaw, Michael (Scarborough)

  Dover, Denshore

  Lloyd, Ian (Havant & Waterloo)

  Shelton, William (Streatham)

  du Cann, Rt Hon Edward

  Lloyd, Peter (Fareham)

  Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)

  Dunn, Robert (Dartford)

  Loveridge, John

  Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge-Br'hills)

  Durant, Tony

  Luce, Richard

  Shersby, Michael

  Eden, Rt Hon Sir John

  Lyell, Nicholas

  Silvester, Fred

  Edwards, Rt Hon N. (Pembroke)

  Macfarlane, Neil

  Sims, Roger

  Eggar, Timothy

  MacGregor, John

  Skeet, T. H. H.

  Elliott, Sir William

  MacKay, John (Argyll)

  Speed, Keith

  Emery, Peter

  McNair-Wilson, Michael (Newbury)

  Speller, Tony

  Eyre, Reginald

  McNair-Wilson, Patrick (New Forest)

  Spence, John

  Fairbairn, Nicholas

  McQuarrie, Albert

  Spicer, Jim (West Dorset)

  Faith, Mrs Sheila

  Madel, David

  Spicer, Michael (S Worcestershire)

  Farr, John

  Major, John

  Sproat, Iain

  Fenner, Mrs Peggy

  Marland, Paul

  Squire, Robin

  Finsberg, Geoffrey

  Marlow, Tony

  Stainton, Keith

  Fisher, Sir Nigel

  Marshall, Michael (Arundel)

  Stanbrook, Ivor

  Fletcher, Alexander (Edinburgh N)

  Marten, Neil (Banbury)

  Stanley, John

  Fletcher-Cooke, Charles

  Mather, Carol

  Steen, Anthony

  Forman, Nigel

  Maude, Rt Hon Angus

  Stevens, Martin

  Fowler, Rt Hon Norman

  Mawby, Ray

  Stewart, Ian (Hitchin)

  Fox, Marcus

  Mawhinney, Dr Brian

  Stewart, John (East Renfrewshire)

  Fraser, Rt Hon H. (Stafford & St)

  Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin

  Stokes, John

  Fraser, Peter (South Angus)

  Mayhew, Patrick

  Stradling Thomas, J.

  Fry, Peter

  Mellor, David

  Tapsell, Peter

  Galbraith, Hon T. G. D.

  Meyer, Sir Anthony

  Taylor, Robert (Croydon NW)

  Gardiner George (Reigate)

  Miller, Hal (Bromsgrove & Redd'tch)

  Tebbit, Norman

  Gardner, Edward (South Fylde)

  Mills, Iain (Meriden)

  Temple-Morris, Peter

  Garel-Jones, Tristan

  Mills, Peter (West Devon)

  Thatcher, Rt Hon Mrs Margaret

  Glyn, Dr Alan

  Miscampbell, Norman

  Thomas, Rt Hon Peter (Handon S)

  Goodhart, Philip

  Mitchell, David (Basingstoke)

  Thompson, Donald

  Gorst, John

  Moate, Roger

  Thorne, Neil (Ilford South)

  Gow, Ian

  Molyneaux, James

  Thornton, Malcolm

  Gower, Sir Raymond

  Monro, Hector

  Townend, John (Bridlington)

  Greenway, Harry

  Montgomery, Fergus

  Townsend, Cyril D. (Bexleyheath)

  Grieve, Percy

  Moore, John

  Trippier, David

  Griffiths, Eldon (Bury St Edmunds)

  Morgan, Geraint

  van Straubenzee, W. R.

  Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N)

  Morris, Michael (Northampton, Sth)

  Vaughan, Dr Gerard

  Grist, Ian

  Morrison, Hon Charles (Devizes)

  Viggers, Peter

  Grylls, Michael

  Morrison, Hon Peter (City of Chester)

  Waddington, David

  Gummer, John Selwyn

  Mudd, David

  Wakeham, John

  Hamilton, Hon Archie (Eps'm&Ew'll)

  Murphy, Christopher

  Waldegrave, Hon William

  Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury)

  Neale, Gerrard

  Walker, Bill (Perth & E Perthshire)

  Hampson, Dr Keith

  Needham, Richard

  Walker-Smith, Rt Hon Sir Derek

  Hannam, John

  Nelson, Anthony

  Wall, Patrick

  Haselhurst, Alan

  Neubert, Michael

  Waller, Gary

  Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael

  Newton, Tony

  Walters, Dennis

  Hawksley, Warren

  Normanton, Tom

  Ward, John

  Heddle, John

  Page, John (Harrow, West)

  Warren, Kenneth

  Henderson, Barry

  Page, Rt Hon Sir R. Graham

  Watson, John

  Haseltine, Rt Hon Michael

  Page, Richard (SW Hertfordshire)

  Wells, John (Maidstone)

  Hicks, Robert

  Parris, Matthew

  Wells, Bowen (Hert'rd & Stev'nage)

  Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L.

  Patten, Christopher (Bath)

  Wheeler, John

  Hill, James

  Patten, John (Oxford)

  Whitelaw, Rt Hon William

  Hogg, Hon Douglas (Grantnam)

  Pawsey, James

  Whitney, Raymond

  Hooson, Tom

  Percival, Sir Ian

  Wickenden, Keith

  Hordern, Peter

  Pink, R. Bonner

  Wiggin, Jerry

  Howell, Rt Hon David (Guildford)

  Pollock, Alexander

  Williams, Delwyn (Montgomery)

  Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk)

  Porter, George

  Winterton, Nicholas

  Hunt, David (Wirral)

  Powell, Rt Hon J. Enoch (S Down)

  Wolfson, Mark

  Hunt, John (Ravensbourne)

  Price, David (Eastleigh)

  Young, Sir George (Acton)

  Hurd, Hon Douglas

  Proctor, K. Harvey

  Irvine, Charles (Cheltenham)

  Pym, Rt Hon Francis

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES:

  Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick

  Raison, Timothy

  Mr. Spencer Le Marchant and Mr. Anthony Berry.

  Jessel, Toby

  Rathbone, Tim

  Johnson Smith, Geoffrey

  910

  911

  NOES

  Abse, Leo

  Fraser, John (Lambeth, Norwood)

  Moyle, Rt Hon Roland

  Adams, Allen

  Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald

  Mulley, Rt Hon Frederick

  Allaun, Frank

  Freud, Clement

  Newens, Stanley

  Alton, David

  Garrett, John (Norwich S)

  Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon

  Anderson, Donald

  Garrett, W. E. (Wallsend)

  Ogden, Eric

  Archer, Rt Hon Peter

  Ginsburg, David

  O'Halloran, Michael

  Armstrong, Rt Hon Ernest

  Golding, John

  O'Neill, Martin

  Ashley, Rt Hon Jack

  Gourlay, Harry

  Orme, Rt Hon Stanley

  Atkinson, Norman (H'gey, Tott'ham)

  Grant, George (Morpeth)

  Owen, Rt Hon Dr David

  Barnett, Guy (Greenwich)

  Grant, John (Islington C)

  Palmer, Arthur

  Beith, A. J.

  Hamilton, W. W. (Central Fife)

  Park, George

  Benn, Rt Hon Anthony Wedgwood

  Hardy, Peter

  Parry, Robert

  Bennett, Andrew (Stockport N)

  Harrison, Rt Hon Walter

  Pavitt, Laurie

  Bidwell, Sydney

  Hart, Rt Hon Dame Judith

  Penhaligon, David

  Booth, Rt Hon Albert

  Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy

  Powell, Raymond (Ogmore)

  Boothroyd, Miss Betty

  Haynes, Frank

  Prescott, John

  Bottomley, Rt Hon Arthur (M'brough)

  Healey, Rt Hon Denis

  Price, Christopher (Lewisham West)

  Bradley, Tom

  Heffer, Eric S.

  Race, Reg

  Bray, Dr Jeremy

  Hogg, Norman (E Dunbartonshire)

  Rees, Rt Hon Merlyn (Leeds South)

  Brown, Hugh D. (Provan)

  Holland, Stuart (L'beth, Vauxhall)

  Richardson, Jo

  Brown, Robert C. (Newcastle W)

  Home Robertson, John

  Roberts, Allan (Bootle)

  Brown, Ronald W. (Hackney S)

  Homewood, William

  Roberts, Ernest (Hackney North)

  Brown, Ron (Edinburgh, Leith)

  Hooley, Frank

  Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock)

  Buchan, Norman

  Horam, John

  Robertson, George

  Callaghan, Rt Hon J. (Cardift SE)

  Howell, Rt Hon Denis (B'ham, Sm H)

  Rooker, J. W.

  Callagnan, Jim (Middleton & P)

  Howells, Geraint

  Ross, Ernest (Dundee West)

  Campbell, Ian

  Huckfield, Les

  Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight)

  Campbell-Savours, Dale

  Hudson Davies, Gwilym Ednyfed

  Rowlands, Ted

  Canavan, Dennis

  Hughes, Mark (Durham)

  Sandelson, Neville

  Carmichael, Neil

  Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen North)

  Sever, John

  Carter-Jones, Lewis

  Hughes, Roy (Newport)

  Sheerman, Barry

  Clark, Dr David (South Shields)

  Janner, Hon Greville

  Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert (A'ton-u-L)

  Cocks, Rt Hon Michael (Bristol S)

  Jay, Rt Kon Douglas

  Shore, Rt Hon Peter (Step and Pop)

  Cohen, Stanley

  John, Brynmor

  Silkin, Rt Kon John (Deptford)

  Coleman, Donald

  Johnson, Walter (Derby South)

  Silkin, Rt Hon S. C. (Dulwich)

  Concannon, Rt Hon J. D

  Johnston, Russell (Inverness)

  Silverman, Julius

  Cook, Robin F.

  Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rhondda)

  Smith, Cyril (Rochdale)

  Cowans, Harry

  Jones, Barry (East Flint)

  Smith, Rt Hon J. (North Lanarkshire)

  Craigen, J. M. (Glasgow, Maryhill)

  Jones, Dan (Burnley)

  Snape, Peter

  Crowther, J. S.

  Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald

  Soley, Clive

  Cryer, Bob

  Kinnock, Neil

  Spearing, Nigel

  Cunliffe, Lawrence

  Lambie, David

  Spriggs, Leslie

  Cunningham, George (Islington S)

  Lamborn, Harry

  Stallard, A. W.

  Cunningham, Dr John (Whitehaven)

  Lamond, james

  Steel, Rt Hon David

  Dalyell, Tarn

  Leadbitter, Ted

  Stoddart, David

  Davidson, Arthur

  Leighton, Ronald

  Stott, Roger

  Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli)

  Lestor, Miss Joan (Eton & Slough)

  Strang, Gavin

  Davies, Ifor (Gower)

  Litherland, Robert

  Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton West)

  Davis, Clinton (Hackney Central)

  Lofthouse, Geoffrey

  Thomas, Dafydd (Merioneth)

  Davis, Terry (B'rm'ham, Stechford)

  Lyons, Edward (Bradford West)

  Thomas, Jeffrey (Abertillery)

  Deakins, Eric

  McCartney, Hugh

  Thomas, Mike (Newcastle East)

  Dempsey, James

  McDonald, Dr Oonagh

  Thomas, Dr Roger (Carmarthen)

  Dewar, Donald

  McElhone, Frank

  Thorne, Stan (Preston South)

  Dixon, Donald

  McGuire, Michael (Ince)

  Tilley, John

  Dobson, Frank

  McKelvey, William

  Torney, Tom

  Dormand, Jack

  MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor

  Varley, Rt Hon Eric G.

  Douglas, Dick

  Maclennan, Robert

  Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley)

  Douglas-Mann, Bruce

  McMahon, Andrew

  Walker, Rt Hon Harold (Doncaster)

  Dubs, Alfred

  McNally, Thomas

  Watkins, David

  Duffy, A. E. P.

  McNamara, Kevin

  Weetch, Ken

  Dunn, James A. (Liverpool, Kirkdale)

  McWilliam, John

  Wellbeloved, James

  Dunnett, Jack

  Magee, Bryan

  Welsh, Michael

  Dunwoody, Mrs Gwyneth

  Marks, Kenneth

  White, Frank R. (Bury & Radcliffe)

  Eadie, Alex

  Marshall, David (Gl'sgow, Shettles'n)

  White, James (Glasgow, Pollok)

  Eastham, Ken

  Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole)

  Whitlock, William

  Edwards, Robert (Wolv SE)

  Marshall, Jim (Leicester South)

  Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Swansea W)

  Ellis, Raymond (NE Derbyshire)

  Martin, Michael (Gl'gow, Springb'rn)

  Wilson, Gordon (Dundee East)

  Ellis, Tom (Wrexham)

  Mason, Rt Hon Roy

  Wilson, Rt Hon Sir Harold (Huyton)

  English, Michael

  Maxton, John

  Wilson, William (Coventry SE)

  Evans, Ioan (Aberdare)

  Maynard, Miss Joan

  Winnick, David

  Evans, John (Newton)

  Meacher, Michael

  Woodall, Alec

  Ewing, Harry

  Mellish, Rt Hon Robert

  Woolmer, Kenneth

  Field, Frank

  Mikardo, Ian

  Wrigglesworth, Ian

  Flannery, Martin

  Millan, Rt Hon Bruce

  Wright, Sheila

  Fletcher, Ted (Darlington)

  Morris, Rt Hon Alfred (Wythenshawe)

  Foot, Rt Hon Michael

  Morris, Rt Hon Charles (Openshaw)

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES

  Forrester, John

  Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon)

  Mr. James Hamilton and Mr. James Tinn.

  Foster, Derek

  Morton, George

  Foulkes, George

  Question accordingly agreed to.
  Bill read the Third time and passed.

CHEMICAL WEAPONS
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr. Cope.)
11.59 pm
Mr. Keith Best (Anglesey): I realise that the use of chemical weaponsis a highly unpalatable topic and touches upon the moral sensibilities of many people, but as long as a potential enemy has the capacity and intention to use chemical weapons I believe that it is the duty of the House to consider the realities of the situation rather than to attempt to put on one side a matter that might, for convenience, be ignored.
I appreciate that there is a danger that I shall be accused of warmongering in the light of the worsening international situation that has occurred as a result of Soviet aggression in Afghanistan. However, the use of chemical weapons has concerned me far longer than that. My concern goes back to the days when I was the officer in charge of nuclear, biological and chemical warfare in my Territorial Army unit.
I am not alone in the House in expressing concern, and I know that hon. Members are aware that there is an early-day motion in my name calling upon Her Majesty's Government to consider the introduction of a chemical offensive capability for the British forces as a deterrent to Soviet and Warsaw Pact aggression. Many other hon. Members have signed that motion, and I shall deal in a moment with the Soviet capacity and intention to use chemical weapons as part of conventional battle. Current events have manifested that capacity and intention.
In Newsweek magazine this week there is a report of the Soviets using chemical weapons in Afghanistan. One Afghan refugee is reported to have said that America must send Afghanistan some medicines because the Russians had dropped a cloud on them from their flying machines. He said that many of his people were sick.
A defecting Afghan army officer has spoken of chemical bombs bursting in the air after being dropped from aero-planes. The gas spread, causing vomiting, breathing defects and blindness. Some
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victims were paralysed and a number of deaths were reported.
It is important that we should be clear in our minds what is meant by chemical weapons. In many cases the technology has not moved as fast as in other aspects of warfare, but the effects are as lethal as ever.
There are five types. Choking agents include phosgene. Eighty per cent. of First World War gas casualties were caused by this kind of agent. Disseminated as a gas, the agent diffuses into the soft membranes lining the lungs, causing the cells to secrete water in an attempt to wash away the poison. This leads to the air sacs filling with liquid, in which the unfortunate victim drowns.
The second type of agents can be termed blood agents. The best known of these agents is hydrogen cyanide. Disseminated as a vaporised liquid aerosol, or gas, it prevents the normal transfer of oxygen from the blood to the tissues, resulting in suffocation and death.
Another type of chemical agent is that which incapacitates its victims. CS gas as used in Northern Ireland and elsewhere for riot control falls within this category, although, perhaps more insidiously, there are types which cause mental rather than physical incapacity.
Blister agents such as mustard gas have been in use for a long time. I remember being a guinea pig in the use of mustard gas in so far as a minute droplet was placed on my wrist. Within a couple of hours a significant blister had appeared. When it is inhaled either as a liquid or as a vapour, the effect obviously can be fatal.
Lastly and by far the most terrifying type is nerve gas, the use of which seems to be appearing in Afghanistan. It was originally discovered by a German scientist prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. It is colourless and has no warning odour. The American VX gas can kill a goat within a minute, and a goat is more resistant than a human being.
Hon. Members can perhaps visualise it if I say that a lethal dose can be represented by the size of a pinhead in a cubic litre of air. The gas creates muscular spasms, which destroy the whole nervous system in a short space of time.

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Against this threat, NATO countries have concentrated upon improving their defensive posture. However, we have to ask whether that is sufficient. An effective offensive capability could be achieved at very little cost since these weapons are not expensive to produce.
It was General Jones, whom I shall quote in a moment, who said that the current overall protective capability must still be rated as marginal to limited, primarily because of insufficient supplies of protective shelters and decontaminating equipment and the lack of area warning systems.
When I visited our forces in Germany last September, I was surprised to find the depth of feeling amongst senior officers who felt that the absence of a chemical offensive capability was a lacuna in our deterrence armoury.
I believe that the uneasy peace in the world rests upon the concept of deterrent. The Soviet Union has demonstrated its ability to use chemical weapons, whereas the only NATO country to have recourse to a limited arsenal of nerve agents and mustard gas is the United States. In those circumstances, there is a massive gap of alarming proportions in NATO's deterrent ability. The Soviet Union must realise that it could use chemical weapons with impunity, while the West could not effectively retaliate. This gives the Soviet Union greater advantage so as to render greater rather than less the likelihood of war.
We have had warnings. In his article in "Strategic Review" in the autumn of 1979, Professor Erickson, director of defence studies at the university of Edinburgh, says:
"The Soviet Union is engaged in a major effort to expand its already formidable capability for waging chemical warfare."
The concern that this intense effort is eliciting among NATO military authorities is mirrored in the following statement of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General David C. Jones, whom I quoted a moment ago, in his United States military posture for the fiscal year 1980. He says:
"The Soviets have the world's most thoroughly armed and equipped chemical warfare force which is prepared to operate in a chemical, bacteriological and radiological environment. Their offensive and defensive chemical operations capabilities continue to improve."
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The general endorsed the view of his predecessor, General Brown, that there had been no restriction by the Soviets in efforts to maintain superiority in combat operations involving the use of chemical weapons and the doctrine of conducting sustained chemical operations in conjunction with either nuclear or conventional warfare.
A recent report in The Observer on 27 January drew attention to some 80,000 Soviet troops in specialist chemical branches, while some 15 per cent. of their missiles are equipped with chemical ammunition. Conventional weapons provide an easy means of delivery, perhaps the most noteworthy of which is the BM21 rocket launcher, which can saturate a square kilometre with some 720 chemical-carrying rockets in 15 seconds. In addition to that, the Soviets have the D30 and other forms of artillery which can be used with equal significance and force for the delivery of chemical weapons.
In the light of such evidence, there is no need for the West to be squeamish about the use of chemical weapons. The 1925 protocol to the Geneva convention did no more than prohibit the use of chemical weapons, but said nothing about their manufacture. There can be small consolation in that when one looks to history to find that in 1889 the Hague international peace conference declared the intention
"to abstain from the use of all projectiles, the object of which is the diffusion of asphyxiating or deleterious gases."
Within 40 years, the world saw the most terrifying use of gas in the First World War.
In 1935–36 some 15,000 out of a total of about 50,000 Ethiopian army casualties were caused by chemical weapons during the Italian invasion. In the past, there has been no reluctance by countries to use chemical weapons, and I believe that that is the reality of today.
The Soviet superiority over the United States in chemical warfare capabilities has been assessed as "considerable", and the imbalance has continued to grow. Efforts are being made to ameliorate some of the deficiencies, but this merely emphasises the need for this country to join our allies in having a chemical retaliatory capacity.

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It is right that I should pay tribute to the work done at Porton and Winter-bourne Gunner on research and development which gives this country an extremely effective defensive posture. I speak with particularly warm affection of the latter establishment, which is where I did my two defence NBC courses when I was the NBC officer for my TA unit.
It can be maintained that the S-6 respirator which is presently issued to the British Army and the current nuclear biological and chemical suit are the best equipment in the world. They are certainly superior to those of the USSR.
My hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Hamilton) takes a particular interest in these matters in his constituency. I am sure that both he and other hon. Members will accept that good defence is no substitute for offensive capability. All indications about the use of chemical weapons are enhanced by the knowledge that nerve gas can kill within a few seconds. It is non-persistent, thus affording the opportunity to destroy the manpower in military establishments, both in the front line and beyond, but without destroying material.
I believe that we would see the use of chemical weapons as part of conventional battle in any future offensive by the USSR. We are seeing it already in Afghanistan. Indeed, if one looks to the military theoreticians in the USSR—people such as Voroshilov and Marshal Sokholovsky—one sees, by reading their pontifications on the concept of modern warfare, that as far as they are concerned the original concept has not changed with the advent of modern technology. That must include not only chemical weapons but also nuclear weapons. That is part of the belief of the Soviet Union in one unit of conventional battle. They do not conveniently compartmentalize the different aspects, as we choose to do in the West—I suspect because of moral reasons rather than military reasons.
The possibility of the use of conventional means of delivery, such as artillery, rockets and aircraft, means that chemical weapons will probably be mixed with more conventional fire power, thus making detection impossible until the effects are felt.
I do not wish to delve deep into the realms of hypothesis, but perhaps for the
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benefit of the House I can paint a scenario of what might happen. A British soldier in his trench, with respirator and NBC suit, is subjected to what he regards as a conventional artillery attack. Unknown to that soldier, mixed with conventional artillery shells are nerve gas munitions. He then has little opportunity to try to gauge the nature of the armament that is being used against him. Perhaps the first indication of it will be when he sees one of his colleagues twitching as a result of the effects of nerve gas. He then has probably less than a few seconds in which to put on his respirator, go over to his colleague's atropine autoject, a device designed to combat the effects of nerve gas, and operate it on his colleague and try to save his life. The whole concept is terrifying.
I do not recall the last war, but certainly in the worsening international situation, if there is to be another war, it seems as if I shall be involved. I believe that the only way in which we can maintain the uneasy peace is through the concept of deterrence. That must include the ability of Britain and other native countries to be able to wage offensive chemical warfare, if only to show the Soviet Union and other potential enemies that we have the ability to maintain a stance in warfare to the same degree as theirs.
I hope that I have drawn to the House's attention the severe danger in which we stand by not having an offensive capability. I call upon my honFriend the Minister, when he replies, to give a firm commitment that the Government will not leave us with a major gap in our defences, in the interests not of war but of the peace which humanity so desperately needs.
12.14 am
Mr. Tam Dalyell: I have two points. The House owes a debt to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. Best) for raising such an important subject. It is highly proper that we should discuss the matter.
I hope that the hon. Gentleman is not suggesting that Prof. Erickson believes that there is Soviet chemical warfare in Afghanistan. I have talked a great deal to Prof. Erickson. I shall not repeat the arguments that I have deployed on three occasions in the past week on Afghanistan. However, if the hon. Gentleman

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believes that there is chemical warfare in Afghanistan, he is under an obligation to produce evidence to that effect.
The Institute of Biology and particular microbiologists such as David Hughes in Cardiff are extremely concerned that Porton should have been turned over to the Department of Health. If he has time, will the Minister explain the effects of such a transfer on people like David Hughes and the Institute of Biology?
12.15 am
The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Keith Speed): I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Anglesey (Mr. Best) for instituting the debate.
The hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) raised a matter involving a number of Departments. If I do not have time to deal with his queries, I shall see that he receives a reply in the near future.
The subject is important, and my hon. Friend dealt objectively and knowledgeably with the difficult issues involved. We should perhaps expect no less from a former member of the Territorial Army with first-hand experience in these matters.
I am sure all hon. Members will agree that in an ideal world chemical weapons would not exist. I cannot comment on magazine reports—I stress the word "reports"—on the use of chemical warfare by the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. If that is true, the Government certainly deplore it.
I believe that it may be helpful, therefore, if I begin by describing where we stand on efforts to negotiate arms control agreements in this field.
The United Kingdom, along with some hundred other nations, including the United States and the Soviet Union, is party to the 1925 Geneva gas protocol, under which parties renounced the use in war of
"asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases and all analogous liquids and devices"
and
"bacteriological methods of warfare".
However, most of the major States which are party to the protocol, including the United Kingdom, reserved the right to use these weapons in retaliation against a similar attack or against non-signatories.
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In short, therefore, the effect of the protocol is to prohibit the first use of chemical weapons between parties to the treaty in war, as my hon. Friend hinted.
Biological weapons, if I might digress briefly, are now the subject of a separate and more recent international agreement—the1972 Biological Weapons Convention. That resulted from a United Kingdom initiative. It builds on the Geneva protocol by forbidding the development, production or stockpiling of biological weapons. The Soviet Union, with the United States and the United Kingdom, is a depository Power for the convention, which came into force in 1975, when the three Powers lodged their instruments of ratification, and to which more than 80 States are now party.
We thus have two types of arms control agreement—the Geneva protocol, banning the use of chemical or biological weapons, and the biological weapons convention, banning possession of biological weapons. In contrast, possession of a capability for offensive chemical warfare is not at present prohibited by international agreement. From an arms control point of view, therefore, the task now facing Governments is to achieve an agreement regarding chemical weapons that would proscribe not just their use in war but also their possession.
A draft text to assist in that was put forward in the Committee on Disarmament by the United Kingdom in 1976. Since that time, the United States and the Soviet Union have been engaged in bilateral discussions aimed at reaching agreement on the elements of such a multilateral convention to prohibit the development, production and stockpiling of chemical weapons. We naturally hope that the two Powers will in due course be able to transmit the results of their deliberations to the multilateral disarmament negotiating body in Geneva for the negotiation of such a convention, and we shall do everything in our power to assist.
However, in all arms control negotiations verification is a central issue. It will be particularly difficult to verify a ban on chemical weapons with any degree of confidence, unless highly intrusive verification methods can be agreed on. That problem is as yet unresolved, and I do not believe that we

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can, in all honesty, expect an early agreement.
In the meantime, the United Kingdom and its allies—I must emphasise that in this as in other areas of our defence policy we do not stand in isolation—must face the fact that possession of chemical weapons is not forbidden by international agreement. In particular, as my hon. Friend has pointed out, the Soviet Union possesses an extensive capability for offensive chemical warfare. It possesses both the weapons and the delivery systems. It has in addition a substantial defensive capability that is frequently exercised in training. Chemical warfare preparedness is integral to the Soviet main fighting equipment, and chemical warfare defence units are organic to every Soviet command from front to regimental level.
The Soviet chemical, biological and radiological protective systems captured during the 1973 Middle East war testify to a high state of Soviet chemical warfare preparedness and capability. This protective equipment is designed for defensive decontamination purposes but would, of course, be equally effective in facilitating offensive operations in a chemical environment to enable Soviet troops to exploit the results of the employment of chemical warfare systems in war.
In the light of this, I find it ironic though not entirely surprising that Pravda should have commented indignantly on recent press reports that the United States was considering the need to refurbish its own stocks of chemical munitions. I cannot, of course, comment in any detail on these reports. However, as my hon. Friend has pointed out, the United States does possess a chemical warfare capability, though NATO as such does not, and neither does the United Kingdom. The United States, has, of course, made it clear that it would not use chemical weapons unless they were first used by an adversary.
Obviously, the threat posed by the Soviet capability demands, effective defensive measures, and I can assure the House that we are taking them. NATO has for a long time given very high priority to defence against chemical attack. An important aim of the Alliance's deterrent and defensive measures is to minimise the advantage to be gained from the use of chemical weapons, so reducing the
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attractiveness of this option to an enemy. The extent to which we are successful in our chemical warfare defensive measures will be a factor in the vigorous maintenance of NATO's overall conventional defence.
It would, I think, be quite fair to say that the United Kingdom occupies a leading position in the field of chemical defence. As an example of the excellence of our protective equipment—which my hon. Friend the Member for Anglesey acknowledged—an improved NBC suit, which has recently come into service with British forces, has also been sold in considerable quantity to United States forces in Europe. I believe that it is the best in the world. Research and development are undertaken at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton, in which my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Hamilton) has a close continuing interest, and the defensive measures to which this research contributes take the form of individual and collective protection as appropriate; detection, monitoring and decontamination equipment; and medical facilities including protective and resuscitative treatment. Our forces are, of course, fully trained in the use of all these measures.
The individual protection kit consists of a suit, gloves, boots and respirator. In addition, collective protection is provided, for example, in most armoured vehicles, in all major Royal Navy ships, in aircraft and in certain static installations. We are constantly striving for improvements to our defensive measures.
To sum up, therefore, the Government and the rest of NATO are well aware of the extensive Soviet capability for offensive chemical warfare. The threat is a very real one and we view it seriously. We are taking the necessary defensive steps, and we are seeking to achieve a more satisfactory arms control position.
Mr. Dalyell: The Minister talks about defensive steps. Am I right in assuming that work against anthrax and botulism has, for some reason or other, ceased, and is this satisfactory?
Mr. Speed: That is not the information that I have, but if I am wrong I shall let the hon. Gentleman know.
We are taking the necessary defensive steps. We are trying to achieve a more satisfactory arms control position. But

923
the Government are determined that our Armed Forces should be both suitably trained and equipped.
I can assure my hon. Friend and the House that the whole subject of chemical warfare is being kept under careful review. I choose my words carefully; I can say no more than that.
I thank my hon. Friend for the important message that he has given the House tonight. It is important, because these matters must not be swept under the carpet.
Mr. Antony Buck (Colchester): Some of my hon. Friend's remarks in winding up this short but valuable debate have been interesting and somewhat alarming. Will he say more about the menace in the White Paper that is to come out in a few months' time? The matter should be more fully developed than is possible in dealing with an Adjournment debate.
Mr. Speed: I thank my hon. and learned Friend for what he has said. The White Paper that is to be published in the not-too-distant future will cover a whole range of threats to the West. This is one of the matters that I hope will be covered, together with a whole series of others.
I understand the concern of the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) about he more specific points that he raised. I do not wish to mislead him with replies tonight that might not be totally accurate, but I shall see that he receives a full and detailed reply in the very near future.
Mr. Dalyell: It is wholly reasonable that the Minister should say quite honestly and honourably that he cannot give answers off the top of his head. I would add a question about tick-borne encephalitis, because the whole question of vaccines against possible threats, how-
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ever remote they may seem, is a subject that we cannot sweep under the carpet—to use the hon. Gentleman's words.
However, I think that the whole matter must be seen in a slightly wider context, because there are real doubts as to whether Porton should not also develop a number of items along the lines that the Institute of Biology has put forward. This raises the whole question of the extent to which the military is, even at this stage, after all the arguments—and I have been involved in this matter one way and another for 15 years; sometimes I wish that I had not—
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bernard Weatherill): Order. The hon. Gentleman is not making a speech, is he?
Mr. Dalyell: I should like to ask whether the Minister is satisfied that the relationship between the military and the Department of Health and Social Security is satisfactory in regard to the Porton establishment.
Mr. Speed: The Department of Health and Social Security and my Department are having discussions about the establishment and the transfer of functions. They are involved in some of the matters that no doubt concern the hon. Gentleman. Whether one was satisfied would depend on how one looked at the matter.
These matters and the hon. Gentleman's general concern will be dealt with in the reply that we shall send him. I appreciate that they are important, and I shall see that he is sent an early reply. There will also have to be a reply from one of my hon. Friends at the Department of Health and Social Security.
Question put and agreed to.
Adjourned accordingly at twenty-eight minutes past Twelve o'clock