Dagenham Foundry (Closure)

HC Deb 29 February 1984 vol 55 cc185-6W

Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the light of the warning given by the Ford Motor Co., in July 1982 in evidence submitted to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee in its inquiry into international monetary arrangements, on the implications for national defence of the shift in manufacturing capacity from the United Kingdom to other countries, Her Majesty's Government have made any assessment of the implications for the defence of the United Kingdom of the closure of foundry capacity at Dagenham and its consequences in terms of vehicle building capacity in time of war.

Mr. Butcher

No. There is a significant under-utilisation of foundry capacity in the United Kingdom.