§ 54. Mr. Edelmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps designed to ensure that the structure of manufacture and employment involving the British workers of the Chrysler Corporation are not radically changed following the acquisition by the Company of the minority British shareholding.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThe Chrysler Corporation has assured the Government that it has every intention of continuing the operations of Chrysler United kingdom Ltd. in manufacturing vehicles for the British market and for export, and of utilising as fully as possible its extensive plants in the United Kingdom. The corporation has also confirmed that the remaining undertakings given in its letter to the Minister of Technology dated 16th January 1967, where still applicable, will remain in force.
§ 55. Mr. Edelmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will veto the proposed acquisition by the Chrysler Corporation of the minority shares belonging to British shareholders in the British Chrysler Company.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanNo, Sir. In view of the undertakings given to successive Governments by the Chrysler Corporation, the corporation quite properly approached the Department seeking a release only from the undertaking given in paragraph10W (vi) of its letter to the Minister of Technology dated 16th January 1967, to enable it to acquire the remaining minority shareholdings in Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd. The Government have agreed to release the corporation from this undertaking, subject to the necessary exchange control consent being obtained.