HC Deb 16 January 1985 vol 71 cc325-6
11. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his latest discussions on the future of British Leyland, Bathgate.

Mr. Allan Stewart

As the hon. Member will be aware from the answer that I gave him last month, my right hon. Friend and I are doing everything that we can to find a successor enterprise for the British Leyland plant at Bathgate, and to create new job opportunities for the West Lothian area.

Mr. Dalyell

Is Mr. Charles Nickerson getting every encouragement from the Scottish Office?

Mr. Stewart

I can confirm that my officials keep in regular touch with both of the companies that have been mentioned, and have been in contact within the past few days.

Mr. Robin Cook

When the Minister examines what he can do for job opportunities in West Lothian, will he bear in mind the fact that in 1980 West Lothian received £7 million in housing and rate support grants, and in 1986 it will receive the grand total of £700,000 from both sources? Does the hon. Gentleman not realise that that sharp drop in outside support will gravely hinder the district council in responding to the tragedy of Bathgate and mean fewer jobs in West Lothian?

Mr. Stewart

I am a firm supporter of the Government's housing policies. I thought that the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) would mention one of the most important factors in the West Lothian situation, which has been the outstanding success of the new town in attracting a wide range of new companies and providing job opportunities for people not just in Livingston but from elsewhere in West Lothian.

Mr. Tom Clarke

Does the Minister agree that it is absurd that there should be any doubt about the future of the plant, in view of the demand for those vehicles in Third world countries? Does he accept that there is an urgent need for a meeting between his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister for Overseas Development so that a conclusion can be reached that would be helpful to the workers of Bathgate as well as those who are starving in developing countries?

Mr. Stewart

The point is that the overseas demand for Leyland's products has declined sharply in recent years. It is true that there has been a marginal improvement in demand recently, but British Leyland has more than enough capacity at its Leyland plant to accommodate even substantially increased demand for trucks.

Mr. Ewing

Is the Minister aware that the Nickerson proposals have the full support of the shop stewards at the British Leyland Bathgate plant? Will he give the House an assurance that the matter will be brought to a conclusion as speedily as possible to remove the uncertainty, not only from the British Leyland plant at Bathgate, but from the whole of that local authority area, which is suffering badly as a result?

Mr. Stewart

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are as anxious as anybody else to reach a satisfactory conclusion. I can confirm that my Department is in close touch with Mr. Nickerson.