Mr Bowen Wells: I refer of course, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Huckfield). Thank you for your correction. I have spent little time abroad since I left the Commonwealth Development Corporation in 1973. I spend a lot of my time in my constituency with the people who voted Conservative at the last general election. I meet them at British Aerospace, on their doorsteps, in the...
Mr Bowen Wells: As my hon. Friend says, it debarred the people who created British Aerospace—the technical staffs who provide the work, the brain power and the vision upon which the industry depends for its future—from consultation with management. That Act produced that lamentable position and that is why we must, in the national interest, find another way to run the industry. The industry is in a...
Mr Bowen Wells: I agree that it was built up by the workers, and among the workers I include management, which the hon. Member for East Kilbridge may not. It was they who created this industry under private enterprise. The House must know that some of the most successful projects including the A300 Airbus were not supported by Government. The private enterprise company involved in the Airbus went it alone....
Mr Bowen Wells: I thank my hon. Friend for reminding me of that. That is the sort of situation of which a nationalised industry would not be able to take advantage. That is why it is vital that the Bill goes through at maximum speed, so that we may know the future and can take advantage of these opportunities. We are not only concerned with civil aircraft construction. The Vickers Viscount and the BAC 111...
Mr Bowen Wells: I agree, but to a large extent they come from my constituents in Stevenage whom I represent in this debate. In this House, one is quite often depressed and frustrated, but today I am elated that we are to put into effect legislation which will provide a future for expansion, and hope and anticipation for constituents. The company, when it is formed, will be able to start off on a new...
Mr Bowen Wells: We hope that because of the new dynamism introduced into this country, the new hopeful prospects—[Interruption.] Labour Members may laugh, but they produced the deplorable state of depression and demoralisation. That is why they are not sitting on the Government Benches today. The Conservative Party is providing the economic framework to enable people to work and produce, and have a hope of...
Mr Bowen Wells: Of course not, and nobody regrets that more than Conservative Members, but we must first—as every housewife throughout the land recognises—put our economic framework into order so that we can begin to get back on to a proper financial basis. It astonishes me that you can make that remark—
Mr Bowen Wells: I apologise, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am surprised that the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) should make such remarks. The interest alone on the money borrowed by the previous Government amounts to £10 billion a year. Of course the horrible rate of interest does not produce the dynamism that we want, but when we have put our house in order—and the country realises that we are working...
Mr Bowen Wells: The problems with which we are dealing, which range more widely as I speak, are basically and fundamentally concerned with whether the company should remain nationalised. The Bill deals with a reorganisation of the ownership of British Aerospace. We need that reorganisation, and I believe that the Bill will enable it to be done in a manner that does not destroy the current management...
Mr Bowen Wells: I wish to refer to the space industry, because it is most important to the consideration of the Bill. The space industry is about to launch into its most exciting developments for many years. Again, this needs the dynamism and cosseting of a privately owned company whose focus is totally on the success, and therefore the profit, of the company. That is another reason why the Bill should be...
Mr Bowen Wells: Will the Minister tell us whether a decision has been taken to build a further terminal or rebuild the terminal at Stansted? That is one alternative to the fifth terminal at London airport.
Mr Bowen Wells: Is not the hon. Gentleman discussing matters that are currently being negotiated between the parties at Lancaster House? Does he agree that that is no part of the function of the House of Commons this evening and that these matters should be agreed between the parties involved, not debated on the Floor of the Committee tonight?
Mr Bowen Wells: If I may bring the Committee back to the nub of the amendment, it seems that both sides of the Chamber are close together if they will only analyse what is being said. If any earnest of faith were needed, surely that is provided by nine weeks of constant and continuous negotiation on behalf of the Lord Privy Seal and the whole of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. There needed to be a...
Mr Bowen Wells: I agree that that is the hon. Gentleman's interpretation of what is intended, but I do not think that it is the correct one. If no agreement emerges from the negotiations, we shall have to consider what to do next. As I understand it, that is what the Government are saying. They are not saying that they will implement the full powers provided in the Bill if there is no agreement. The...
Mr Bowen Wells: We shall come to another clause that enables the Government to implement parts of the Bill. Should the talks fail, the Government may think it right to implement only parts of the Bill. Surely, the need for the Bill is manifest, given the state of negotiations. We need the powers in the Bill to implement what we have said we could do. It is a matter of faith. We must have those powers....
Mr Bowen Wells: All that the Government have said is that they would need to consider the position that would present itself if there were no agreement. That does not mean that the British Government would be involved in fighting a war in Rhodesia. If there is no agreement at the conference, it will not mean that we have to send a Governor. The Bill does not make that mandatory. It merely means that we shall...
Mr Bowen Wells: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the only reason why the Patriotic Front is in its position today is that its members are the only people in the current round of negotiations who have not agreed? The proposals put by the British Government have been accepted by all parties except the Patriotic Front. That is the only reason why the Patriotic Front is an exception. However, it is not the...
Mr Bowen Wells: asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement about the effects of the Price Commission on prices and investment over the past two years.
Mr Bowen Wells: Has not management time been expended on the activities of the Price Commission, diverting management from increasing productivity, which is the only way in which we shall get prices down?
Mr Bowen Wells: I rise to make my maiden speech with the words spoken to me by Mr. Speaker when I swore the oath of allegiance still ringing in my ears. Mr. Speaker hoped that I would enhance the traditions of the House. That I hope very much to do. I find the traditions of the House sometimes difficult to define, although on this occasion I believe that principally there are three. Perhaps not the least of...
