HC Deb 14 May 1990 vol 172 cc597-8 3.33 pm
Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)

Under Standing Order No. 20, and in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Orme) and my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Eastham), chairman and secretary respectively of the Amalgamated Engineering Union group, I seek leave to raise an issue which I believe should have urgent consideration, namely, the action of the Department of Trade and Industry on the Atlas steel foundry in my constituency and on its referral to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, in the light of the verdict in the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Friday afternoon giving an interdict. I should like to acknowledge the presence of the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Forth), the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

That matter is important because it concerns the future of basic heavy manufacturing industry in Britain. It is definite because it was the subject of court proceedings on Friday. I can put the matter no better in terms of urgency than the letter from the solicitors concerned to Nigel Harris of the AEU. Mrs. Laura Walker says: May I stress that, although the Interim Interdict stands until it is recalled, we anticipate that Cooks will now attempt to recall it. It is therefore imperative that the Union ascertains from the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and from the Office of Fair Trading what they are going to do about the breach of the undertaking so that they can take appropriate action, as they are the bodies who, in the eyes of the Court, have both title and interest to sue. The debate is urgent because of the need to ascertain what the Department of Trade and Industry will do in relation to section 74(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973, under which a Secretary of State may, by order made by statutory instrument,

  1. "(a) prohibit or restrict the doing of things which in his opinion would constitute action to which this subsection applies, or
  2. (b) impose on any person concerned obligations as to the carrying on of any activities or the safeguarding of any assets".
It is the Armadale assets that are vital to continue the heavy industry, which this country would not have if Armadale ceased to exist.

The Act continues:

  1. "(c) provide for the carrying on of any activities or the safeguarding of any assets either by the appointment of a person to conduct or supervise the conduct of any activities (on such terms and with such powers as may be specified or described in the order) or in any other manner, or
  2. (d) exercise any of the powers which, by virtue of paragraph 12 of Schedule 8"——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman has had his time.

The hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely: The Department of Trade and Industry action in the light of Lord Milligan's granting interdict in the Atlas case. As the House knows, I have to announce my decision without giving reasons to the House. As the hon. Gentleman equally knows, I have listened with care to what he has said, but I must determine whether his application comes within the scope of the Standing Order. I regret that in this case the matter does not meet those requirements, and I therefore cannot submit his application to the House.