§ 8. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement about developments at the De Lorean plant in West Belfast.
§ Mr. ButlerI have little to add to my reply to my hon. Friend on 1 July.
Discussions are continuing with a United Kingdom consortium and with Mr. De Lorean, concerning the acquisition of the business and the eventual resumption of production at the Dunmurry factory. I am, however, glad to say that former employees of De Lorean Motor Cars Ltd. have now called off their occupation and picketing of the factory premises.
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonIs time for the discussions between the receiver, the consortium or with Mr. De Lorean unlimited? If it is not, when does the cut-off period come?
§ Mr. ButlerTime is not unlimited, because at the end of May the receiver-managers said that they would have to set preparations in hand for realising the company's assets. On the other hand, the Government intend—the receiver-managers are aware of this—that as much time as is reasonable should be allowed to bring the present negotiations to fruition.
§ Mr. CryerDoes the Minister agree that the workers' occupation was a sign of deep desperation in the search for and defence of jobs in Northern Ireland? Could not the Government support them? Is he aware that many of the workers helped De Lorean with production difficulties? Does he agree that by getting the rights to the car, for which the taxpayer has paid heavily and surely deserve, the workers could be helped, if they so wish, to set up a workers' co-operative and to get the car on to European and other markets?
§ Mr. ButlerI do not know whether the occupation was a sign of desperation. It prejudiced the negotiations that the receiver-managers were having. About 200 employees have now been taken on once more to carry out maintenance work and to ensure that cars can be shipped from the factory.
§ Mr. William RossThe Minister has referred only to a United Kingdom consortium. Have there been inquiries from further afield, for example from Nissan, which, I understand, is no longer interested in building in Great Britain but might be interested in purchasing a brand new, highly automated car assembly plant in Northern Ireland, even if it did not build a De Lorean car but one of its own models?
§ Mr. ButlerDuring the many months since the receivership started there have been many inquiries of various kinds. The only serious interest at the moment is from the United Kingdom consortium and from Mr. De Lorean in America.
§ Mr. SoleyIn view of the acute anxiety in Northern Ireland about the 21 per cent. unemployment, the acute anxiety of employees at De Lorean and the Minister's statement the other night about Harland and Wolff, is it not time for the Government to make a statement about their intentions with regard to public investment, so that the people of Northern Ireland can have some security for the future and some idea of where the economy is going?
§ Mr. ButlerThe question relates to De Lorean. The Government could not have done more to help with regard to De Lorean and to encourage the receiver-managers in every possible way to try to find a way forward. That is the positive help that we are giving in this case.