§ 27. Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for Industry what study he has made of the policy options on the future of BL which involve closing the company if it is not viable within three years, or selling off profitable parts of the company.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe Government look fully at the various options concerning BL in the context of consideration of the company's corporate plan.
§ 31. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has yet made any decision regarding the British Leyland corporate plan.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe Government are considering BL's 1982 corporate plan. A decision will be announced in due course.
§ 42. Dame Judith Hartasked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions he has had, or proposes to have, with the chairman of British Leyland following the announcement on 20 November concerning further redundancies.
§ Mr. Norman LamontBL's decision to introduce cost-cutting measures and consequent redundancies at Leyland Group plants was made on a commercial basis and the Government were not involved. My right hon. Friend and I have had meetings with the chairman of BL at which these matters, among others, were discussed.
§ 44. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has given any encouragement to British Leyland as part of the privatisation policy of Her Majesty's Government to prepare parts of British Leyland Vehicles as packages for sale in optimum condition.
§ Mr. WakehamMy right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Industry said in his statement of 26 January 1981, announcing the Government's approval of BL's 1981 corporate plan, that the Government supported the BL board's intention of creating viable businesses and of attracting private capital into them. That situation has not changed. It has also long been BL's policy to dispose of its non-mainstream businesses, and we agree with this policy.