Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Harry Barnes (Labour), on Tuesday, 24 October 2000, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 213 members in total.

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SAINT-GOBAIN TAKE-OVER OF BIWATER, CLAY CROSS

That this House finds it to be totally unacceptable that the French-based multi-national company Saint-Gobain should have acquired the shares of Biwater (Clay Cross) Ltd for the immediate purposes of closing the plant; is deeply concerned that this will lead to the loss of 700 jobs and the devastation of the local community; is aware that Saint-Gobain's objectives in moving to close the plant are (a) to destroy the pipe manufacturing capacity of a key rival, especially in international markets, (b) to capture Biwater's extensive and growing order book, essentially for transfer to overseas companies and (c) to transfer and asset strip the plant's machinery; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to prevent the closure by making full and effective use of powers available to him under the Fair Trading Act 1973, which includes the possibility of setting up an immediate inquiry into the take-over by the Competition Commission and halting all moves to close the plant while the Commission undertakes an in-depth investigation which it is believed will lead to the saving of the plant and the condemnation of Saint-Gobain's actions.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

1084 

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Closures Takeovers Biwater

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk