This is not a question of painting a depressing picture. However, over the last few years, Rover, one of the Jaguar plants at Browns Lane and Marconi have all left Coventry. We must face reality. Those working in plants want to know what their future is. For example, they are...

This is not a question of painting a depressing picture. However, over the last few years, Rover, one of the Jaguar plants at Browns Lane and Marconi have all left Coventry. We must face reality. Those working in plants want to know what their future is. For example, they are...

The Government have an opportunity to promote engineering in schools. The Government should take the initiative. A recent report by the Royal Academy of Engineering made the point that youngsters are not interested in engineering. Perhaps the Government could make a positive effort. Will the Minister take that up with...

The Government have an opportunity to promote engineering in schools. The Government should take the initiative. A recent report by the Royal Academy of Engineering made the point that youngsters are not interested in engineering. Perhaps the Government could make a positive effort. Will the Minister take that up with...

I agree absolutely with my hon. Friend. There have been some savage cuts and some incorrect decisions taken. None has been more wrong than the one taken on Peugeot. It was not the fact that it was not profitable; its work force did everything to ensure that production continued, but...

I agree absolutely with my hon. Friend. There have been some savage cuts and some incorrect decisions taken. None has been more wrong than the one taken on Peugeot. It was not the fact that it was not profitable; its work force did everything to ensure that production continued, but...

I cannot disagree. Some good points are being made. This is about the future and ensuring that the models relate to future demand.

I cannot disagree. Some good points are being made. This is about the future and ensuring that the models relate to future demand.

Does the hon. Gentleman share my concern that the precursor to engineering—physics funding—has been cut recently by the Government? Does he accept that exchange rate stability is important to the global market?

Does the hon. Gentleman share my concern that the precursor to engineering—physics funding—has been cut recently by the Government? Does he accept that exchange rate stability is important to the global market?

We know that there is a global market out there. However, as the hon. Gentleman knows, most people still deliver in dollars. No one can get away from that fact, no matter how pro-European they might be. I have continued to press Departments to procure more cars built in the...

We know that there is a global market out there. However, as the hon. Gentleman knows, most people still deliver in dollars. No one can get away from that fact, no matter how pro-European they might be. I have continued to press Departments to procure more cars built in the...

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We must make engineering trendy and to look at it in the same way as the Germans, who put engineering first. That is important. The classics might be good for some, but they do not constitute the backbone of the country.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We must make engineering trendy and to look at it in the same way as the Germans, who put engineering first. That is important. The classics might be good for some, but they do not constitute the backbone of the country.

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Those are great brands, and there has been great investment by Ford. The company has driven things so well and put all these new measures in place, but it is now selling, and that is my regret—not what the company has done otherwise.

Those are great brands, and there has been great investment by Ford. The company has driven things so well and put all these new measures in place, but it is now selling, and that is my regret—not what the company has done otherwise.

If there is a silver lining in this story, it is that these brands will now be central to the goals of the companies that own them, rather than being a niche element in a major company. I happened to go to Aston Martin yesterday for the unveiling of its...

If there is a silver lining in this story, it is that these brands will now be central to the goals of the companies that own them, rather than being a niche element in a major company. I happened to go to Aston Martin yesterday for the unveiling of its...

I have tried to show the balance and the strength of the car manufacturing industry in the UK. However, we must look to the long-term future. We all know that, when the French became involved, the decision on where the next line for the Nissan Micra went was very close....

I have tried to show the balance and the strength of the car manufacturing industry in the UK. However, we must look to the long-term future. We all know that, when the French became involved, the decision on where the next line for the Nissan Micra went was very close....

While we dwell briefly on successes, Toyota's car assembly plant is based in Burnaston, in my constituency, and is a flagship of a group that is dominating the world in car manufacturing. One thing that would keep it there is investment in proper infrastructure in order to allow the plant...

While we dwell briefly on successes, Toyota's car assembly plant is based in Burnaston, in my constituency, and is a flagship of a group that is dominating the world in car manufacturing. One thing that would keep it there is investment in proper infrastructure in order to allow the plant...

I recognise that, but after the investment, the profitable side is here. Why not close plants in other parts of Europe? We know that Ford have made a lot of closures in America, but once it has turned the corner it is surely better to keep silverware that is well...

I recognise that, but after the investment, the profitable side is here. Why not close plants in other parts of Europe? We know that Ford have made a lot of closures in America, but once it has turned the corner it is surely better to keep silverware that is well...

I agree with the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff) that my hon. Friend is painting a depressing picture. In the north-east, Nissan has been a great success, having produced the Micra, Almera and Primera, and is making about a third of a million cars a year. It has been...

I agree with the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff) that my hon. Friend is painting a depressing picture. In the north-east, Nissan has been a great success, having produced the Micra, Almera and Primera, and is making about a third of a million cars a year. It has been...

Absolutely right. That is the point that I am making. We must put in the investment to ensure that our car industry has a long-term future. That is what I am concerned about and what I am trying to get across. At the moment, the market is very successful, but...

Absolutely right. That is the point that I am making. We must put in the investment to ensure that our car industry has a long-term future. That is what I am concerned about and what I am trying to get across. At the moment, the market is very successful, but...

Does my hon. Friend agree that part of the difficulty for the industry's long-term future in the UK is that, owing to foreign ownership, we have been chasing markets that are, by and large, declining? As far as I am aware, only two superminis are built in the UK—the Mini...

Does my hon. Friend agree that part of the difficulty for the industry's long-term future in the UK is that, owing to foreign ownership, we have been chasing markets that are, by and large, declining? As far as I am aware, only two superminis are built in the UK—the Mini...

This has been an excellent debate, and I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on securing it. He and all the other hon. Members who have taken part have shown that passionate support for UK car manufacturing continues in the House. I welcome that; such...

This has been an excellent debate, and I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on securing it. He and all the other hon. Members who have taken part have shown that passionate support for UK car manufacturing continues in the House. I welcome that; such...

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will forgive me, but I will not give way, because time is short. Engineering should be given much higher status in this country. We should also be concerned about the loss of specialist departments. We have lost 31 physics departments and five maths departments....

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will forgive me, but I will not give way, because time is short. Engineering should be given much higher status in this country. We should also be concerned about the loss of specialist departments. We have lost 31 physics departments and five maths departments....

I do not want to prevent my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland (Dr. Kumar) from getting in before the 10.30 shutdown, so I shall simply make a few comments echoing points that have already been made. I agree with every word of the previous speech,...

I do not want to prevent my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland (Dr. Kumar) from getting in before the 10.30 shutdown, so I shall simply make a few comments echoing points that have already been made. I agree with every word of the previous speech,...

I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on securing the debate. He is making a debate here in Westminster Hall on the motor industry a regular feature, and quite right too, given the industry's enormous importance to jobs, innovation, skills, GDP and exports. Some colleagues...

I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on securing the debate. He is making a debate here in Westminster Hall on the motor industry a regular feature, and quite right too, given the industry's enormous importance to jobs, innovation, skills, GDP and exports. Some colleagues...