HC Deb 19 February 1980 vol 979 cc185-6W
Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he or the Northern Ireland Development Agency has been approached by the De Lorean Company for additional support from public funds.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The company has recently submitted a request for additional financial assistance which is receiving consideration.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the sales predictions for the DMC car produced by De Lorean for the 12 months commencing November 1980 in (a) the United States of America, (b) the United Kingdom and (c) Europe.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The company expects that the total production for the year commencing November 1980, approximately 20,000 cars, will be sold in the USA, where orders in excess of this number have already been placed by its dealers.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there is contained in the agreement between the De Lorean Motor Car Company, the Department of Commerce and the Northern Ireland Development Agency facilities for terminating the agreement; and, if so, on what terms.

Mr. Giles Shaw

There is no provision in the agreement giving discretion to terminate it, the Government have made it clear that they will honour in full the commitments made to the Company by the previous Administration. These commitments are, however, subject to conditions defined in the agreement which the company must observe.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the De Lorean research partnership agreed to grant to the De Lorean Company by 22 September 1979 a licence of its rights to the DMC 12 car and the ERM process; and in what way this agreement has been varied following the failure of the ERM process for the use in the DMC 12 car.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The De Lorean Research Limited Partnership agreed to grant to the De Lorean Motor Company by 22 September 1979 a licence of its rights to the DMC 12 car and the ERM process. The licence was duly granted on the terms originally agreed.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any additional public finance has been agreed or is being contemplated for the De Lorean car project.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The company has recently submitted a request for additional financial assistance which is receiving consideration.