§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether the publicly-financed Meriden Co-operative will be able to continue its operations following the decision announced to the House on 31st July to make no more public finance available to the motor cycle industry;
(2) what new facts were brought to light by the report of the Boston Consultants Group on the motor cycle industry that were not known or available before July 1974 when the then Secretary of State decided to give public finance to the Meriden Co-operative;
(3) how many jobs he expects will be lost in the State-supported firm of Norton Villiers Triumph as a result of the decision announced to the House on 31st July to make no further public finance available;
(4) how much of the £24 million of public money spent or committed to the motor cycle industry in the past two years he expects will prove irrecoverable.
§ Mr. VarleyThe statement that I made to the House on Thursday 31st July, together with the report of the Boston Consultants Group, contains the latest information on the motor cycle industry at present available to the Government. It is for the companies concerned to decide their future policy in the light of the Government's decision that I announced. My Department will, however, remain in close touch with them.