Mr Stanley Crowther: In view of the significant increase in demand for British-made steel in the past 12 months or so, is the Minister having discussions with the chairman of the British Steel Corporation to ensure that, whether or not it is privatised, BSC will retain an adequate steel-making capacity to meet any further demand that may arise from, for example, a further increase in the motor manufacturing...
Mr Stanley Crowther: Does my hon. Friend agree that the Americans discovered many years ago that select committees make excellent television?
Mr Stanley Crowther: I must tell the hon. Member for Corby (Mr. Powell) that the steel industry has got rid of far more jobs in my constituency than in his. The difference is that the jobs in my constituency did not all go at the same time. They went over a longer period, so those job losses did not cause the Government to leap into action. In that respect, Corby was far more fortunate than Rotherham. In...
Mr Stanley Crowther: There is a great deal of merit in what my hon. Friend says. It is no accident that most of the areas which so desperately need public sector backing to bring them up to something approaching the level of prosperity of the south-east, send Labour Members to this House. I do not think that the Government could care less, so long as they are able to keep a large majority without the aid of many...
Mr Stanley Crowther: My hon. Friend is right. I referred to that point a few minutes ago. That will be the crucial test. The Bill will do nothing for those thousands of young people who desperately need proper jobs with a future. I mentioned the difficulty that will be created by uncertainty about the availability of grants. It has always been in the power of Governments to change the criteria. All Governments...
Mr Stanley Crowther: Does the Minister agree that some of the worst levels of unemployment are found not in the inner cities but in the traditional manufacturing towns and colliery villages in, for example, areas such as the Rotherham and Mexborough travel-to-work area which, according to the Government's own fiddled figures, already has 20 per cent. of its people out of work? The Minister has assured the House...
Mr Stanley Crowther: Does the Minister accept that to talk about generalities of 3 per cent. is no great consolation to the energy-intensive industries, such as steel, coal, aluminium and chemicals, in which energy costs may account for as much as 25 per cent. of production costs? What will the Department do to protect those industries from the enormous electricity price increases that will take effect from next...
Mr Stanley Crowther: Does my right hon. Friend agree that there is a considerable distinction to be drawn between the matter covered by the Bill, which is essentially a leisure activity, and ordinary retail trading, which clearly is not? Is it not illogical to exclude from leisure activities the one afternoon on which most people have the most leisure?
Mr Stanley Crowther: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?
Mr Stanley Crowther: I want to make two very brief points. First, if there are right hon. or hon. Members who really do not think that the service that they give to their constituents, to this House and to the country is worth £22,500 they may well be right. Perhaps the service that they are giving is not worth that. However, I know that the service that I am giving is worth that much. In fact, I know that it is...
Mr Stanley Crowther: Will we have to pay money in if we get more?
Mr Stanley Crowther: In view of the undertaking that the Secretary of State has already given about limiting the ownership of Rolls-Royce shares to 15 per cent., is it not essential that legislation on the lines just referred to should be introduced before he proceeds with the privatisation of Rolls-Royce?
Mr Stanley Crowther: With respect, Mr. Speaker, the recommendation concerns not only Westland, but companies in general. I submit that my question is in order.
Mr Stanley Crowther: Before proceeding with the privatisation of Rolls-Royce, is it not essential for the Government to introduce legislation requiring the disclosure of voting rights in shares? Such legislation should be on the lines suggested in an earlier report, which I shall not mention. If the Government do not, how can they guarantee the undertaking that they have already given — that not more than 15...
Mr Stanley Crowther: Is the Secretary of State aware that in recent weeks a study by Anthony Bird Associates came to the conclusion that demand for steel in Europe is likely to increase up to 1990 at least? Another study by the American analyst Payne Webber reached the conclusion that the BSC is now producing the cheapest steel in Europe. In view of that, would not further capacity cuts in Britain be nonsense? Is...
Mr Stanley Crowther: Friday 6 March.
Mr Stanley Crowther: Yes. Unfortunately, my hon. Friend is unable to be present.
Mr Stanley Crowther: I wish to join other hon. Members in expressing my warmest thanks to the hon. Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart) who comes from a part of the United Kingdom where a more enlightened attitude prevails. He has had the generosity of spirit to try to extend the benefits of civilisation to the benighted English. Clearly, King Edward I has been forgiven. I support the Bill because it is the best...
Mr Stanley Crowther: I fully support that point and do not suggest that those restrictions should be removed. Having received his licence and thus secured the approval of the licensing bench, the licensee should be allowed to get on with his business in a responsible way. If the Bill is turned down, the House cannot escape the charge of double standards. My right hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Mr. Oakes)...
Mr Stanley Crowther: When the Council of Ministers considers in a few weeks' time the further massive round of capacity cuts that are being worked out between the Commission and the steel makers through Eurofer, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind what the Select Committee on Trade and Industry has said many times, that the British steel industry has taken more than its fair share of cuts and should not...
