British Leyland (Hansard, 22 February 1982)

§ 12. Mr. Dalyell
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will seek to alter the management structure of British Leyland so as to make the company more accountable to its work force for policy decisions, especially when these relate to closures.

§ Mr. Norman Lamont
No. It is for the BL board to determine the company's management structure and for the board and management to consult the work force as and when necessary.

§ Mr. Dalyell
Have Ministers learnt anything from the agony of the past four weeks?

§ Mr. Lamont
The work force has also learnt from the past few weeks. It has learnt that there will be secure jobs only if BL remains competitive, if it has competitive levels of manning and if it has a capacity adjusted to the market. That is the important lesson that should be learnt.

§ Mr. Kenneth Lewis
Nevertheless, does my hon. Friend agree that the sooner that we have effective works councils in British industry, so that management and work force can talk together, aside from what the unions may do separately, the better it will be?

§ Mr. Lamont
My hon. Friend has always been interested in this issue. Whether there should be works councils in British Leyland is a matter for the management of the company, as my hon. Friend well knows.

§ Mr. Winnick
Is the Minister aware that the attitude adopted by Sir Michael Edwardes and some o f his colleagues is bound to lead to aggravation and labour troubles at the plant? When will Sir Michael stop treating his work force like dirt?

§ Mr. Lamont
It is about time that hon. Members on the Opposition Benches stopped knocking Sir Michael Edwardes and recognised that he has given the company something that it has not had for many years—hope and the prospect of a future.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
Does my hon. Friend agree that the sooner that we can sell off parts of BL to the private sector, the better for the taxpayer and for the employees?

§ Mr. Lamont
My right hon. Friend who is now the Secretary of State for Education and Science stated on 26 January 1981 that the Government support British Leyland's intention of creating viable businesses and attracting private capital into them. I agree with my hon. Friend that private enterprise is much more likely to provide lasting jobs and prosperity for those who work in industry.

§ Mr. Dalyell
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.