HC Deb 24 July 1984 vol 64 cc815-6
14. Mr. Straw

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for implementation of the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Bill.

Mr. Pattie

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) on 23 July.

Mr. Straw

The Government suffered a further humiliating defeat in the other place last week when Labour amendments requiring that the ROFs be privatised only as a single entity were approved. Do the Government now intend to accept those amendments or seek to reverse them?

Mr. Pattie

The Government expect to address the amendments made in another place when the Bill returns to this House in October. Therefore, the answer is that we shall not accept those amendments.

Mr. McNamara

Why will the Government not accept the will of the other place in this matter? We know of the great concern that the Government claim to have for democracy, Parliament and the rule of law. All that their Lordships are asking is that Parliament should approve of whatever regulations and schemes that the Secretary of State may make, because at the moment nobody knows what he will do, and he has a free hand to dispose of these valuable national assets. Why will they not accept that?

Mr. Pattie

These matters were considered in the House extensively and the will of the House was made known then.

Mr. Eggar

Is my hon. Friend aware that on the Conservative Benches there is still considerable support for a decision that would allow the Ministry of Defence to sell some of the factories individually, rather than all of them collectively?

Mr. Pattie

I note what my hon. Friend has to say.