§ 7. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for the future of the commercial vehicle industry in Britain.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe future of this industry, as of others, will be determined by market demand and its ability to compete.
§ Mr. DalyellWhat advice would the Minister give to a skilled man from Bathgate who wishes to continue his career somewhere in the British commercial vehicle industry?
§ Mr. MorrisonAs the hon. Gentleman knows, I am concerned about the position at Bathgate and I have made every possibility—
§ Mr. CanavanAnswer the question.
§ Mr. MorrisonI will answer the question.
I have made every possibility available to see whether there are new industries that will come, as has my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. The hon. Gentleman will know that unless the truck industry becomes competitive there will be no truck industry, but there may be opportunities for the person to whom the hon. Gentleman referred at the Leyland Trucks plant.
§ Mr. MadelWill my hon. Friend confirm that one way to secure thousands of jobs in our commercial vehicle 695 industry is to get more American investment? To that end, will he confirm that he is constantly reminding General Motors that more investment by that company in this country, especially in Bedfordshire, is not only beneficial for it, but is very beneficial for us?
§ Mr. MorrisonI can certainly confirm that the Bedford plant in Bedfordshire is very important indeed and that, over a long period, General Motors has invested substantial sums in that plant, which, until recently, has provided a healthy and viable industry and livelihoods for many thousands of employees.
§ Mr. HoyleWhat discussions did the Secretary of State have with Mr. Robert Stempel of General Motors when they met in New York on 4 May? Did they discuss Bedford and Leyland commercial vehicles? If not, what did they discuss, and will the Secretary of State make a statement?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am assured by my right hon. Friend that they did not meet.
Mr. John Mark TaylorIs my hon. Friend now reconciled to the fact that the future of Land Rover lies independently of Leyland and, one hopes, in the private sector? Will my hon. Friend encourage the new chief executive of Leyland to look at those possibilities?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am not reconciled to any particular facts about Land Rover, but I wish it every success in an expanding market place.
§ Mr. Terry DavisIf there are some doubts about jobs at Bedford, would not it he a good idea to consider the possibility of General Motors' van-making operation, which is losing money, being taken over by the the profit-making Freight Rover?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe hon. Gentleman will recall that he and I visited the Freight Rover plant in his constituency and I hope he recalls that I was impressed by what I saw.
§ Mr. Beaumont-DarkWill my hon. Friend accept that many of us were obliged to the Government for seeing the sense of the argument that Land Rover, as a specialist manufacturer, should stay on its own, but will he also accept that many of us believe that rationalisation of our commercial vehicle industry is important and that most of us who were against the earlier plan would welcome General Motors, through its Bedford subsidiary, having sensible talks with Leyland Truck, so that a viable and prosperous truck industry can survive and thrive in this country?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is a welcome exception to get a pat on the back from my hon. Friend in this area, and I am most grateful to him. I am also most interested in my hon. Friend's concern for the future of the truck industry, which, as we have been saying constantly throughout this year, is most important indeed and about which difficult decisions will have to be made.
§ Mr. John SmithSince, as the Minister well knows, from August 1984 until earlier this year the Government had a strategy to dispose of our commercial vehicles industry, or large sections of it, to American interests and that has now collapsed in a shambles, what is the Government's present strategy for the industry? Can the Minister tell us whether any talks are going on or are planned with any foreign interests to acquire any part of the British motor vehicle industry?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe right hon. and learned Gentleman has been told on several occasions that the Government's strategy is to rationalise, where that is necessary, to ensure that there is a healthy and viable commercial vehicle industry. No talks are taking place.