HC Deb 15 June 1979 vol 968 cc353-4W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in the light of the serious competition to the British bearings industry especially from the Far East, what action he intends to take to prevent redundancies at Fafnir Bearings Ltd., Wolverhampton; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Mitchell

The European bearings manufacturers have difficulties because of general over-capacity of world production. Against that background it is for Fafnir Bearings to judge the prospects for its production in the United Kingdom and the size of the labour force that is required. In this the company will no doubt take into account the price undertaking entered into by the Japanese exporters and the application made by the European manufacturers to the Commission of the EEC for anti-dumping action to be taken against certain imports.