HC Deb 08 July 1983 vol 45 cc197-8W
Mr. Orme

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess what effect the breakdown of the agreement at Vauxhall Motors, Luton, on the production of Cavalier cars in the United Kingdom will have on the level of imports of motor vehicles.

Mr. Butcher

No official estimates are available of the impact on total vehicle imports of the breakdown between locally produced and imported Cavalier cars in Vauxhall's agreement to expand production at its Luton plant. In 1982 around half the total number of Cavaliers sold in the British market were also produced here. The decision by Vauxhall to expand production at its Luton plant, which remains its firm intention, should lead to a substantial reduction in the proportion of Cavalier sales met from imports. It is not possible, however, to estimate the impact on total vehicle imports into the United Kingdom which depends upon the manufacturing and marketing performance of other manufacturers.