§ Mr. Neil Thorne (Ilford, South)The Plessey Company was founded in my constituency in Vicarage lane, and is now the subject of a takeover bid. The staff are particularly worried that their livelihood may be threatened, and present a petition to the House—Mr. Eddie Lewis has collected more than 1,500 names—which states:
That the undersigned object to the proposed takeover of the Plessey Company plc by General Electric Company plc because such a takeover would result in very heavy job losses, serious harm to the research and development in which the Plessey Company plc has up to now been involved and the creation of a monopoly which would limit the choice facing major customers in the electronic and defence markets.Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House do urge the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to take all such steps as are open to him to prevent the said takeover.I have pleasure in presenting the petition to the House, in the hope that the appropriate authorities will take note of my constituents' anxiety, and that the Plessey company remains free and independent.
§ To lie upon the Table.