HC Deb 14 December 1978 vol 960 cc354-5W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what the policy of the Government towards new proposals by Hitachi for involvement in television manufacture in the United Kingdom will be.

Mr. Alan Williams

Since this is a further example of the joint venture approach which I advocated when I was in Japan, I particularly welcome the GEC-Hitachi joint venture because:

  1. (a) it would save a large number of jobs which were very seriously threatened in an area of high unemployment;
  2. (b) it will enable Japanese technology to be applied to British industry;
  3. (c) it will increase efficiency and exports and it will save on imports;
  4. (d) it shows that yet another major international company has chosen the United Kingdom as a base for its manufacture for the whole of Western Europe;
  5. (e) GEC already source over half of their non-tube components and materials from within the United Kingdom and the new joint venture will make the maximum use of United Kingdom tubes, components and materials, subject to commercial considerations;
  6. (f) there will be extra investment to improve the quality of the components; this will add to the capability of the British component industry and help improve the quality and reliability of British-made consumer electronics.

I have previously made it clear that the Government would strongly support all investment in industry which was in the national interest. This is a very good project. It is strongly in the national interest.