FUTURE OF LONGBRIDGE

Early day motion 737, tabled 16 May 2000 by Austin Mitchell (Labour). Signed by 23 members.

That this House congratulates the Phoenix Consortium, led by John Towers, for its successful deal with BMW which will maintain volume car production at Longbridge and commends the efforts of Government and the DTI to further and broker this deal; wishes Rover every success in maintaining and expanding a proud British marque which is crucial to the industrial future of the West Midlands; points out that large-scale car production at Longbridge needs to be sustained into the long-term future, but that that depends not only on the efforts of Rover workers and management in boosting productivity, but also on the competitiveness of the exchange rate which translates British costs into foreign currency terms; emphasises that the pound is presently substantially overvalued, particularly against the undervalued euro, and urges the Government to continue what it has now begun by helping and sustaining Rover over the long-term in every possible way, including both alleviating its burdens and, if necessary, by providing, guaranteeing and facilitating the necessary finance to allow Rover to build the long-term better future for its marque, for Longbridge and for the British component industries which depend on it; and points out that Britain cannot allow Rover to fail, which gives government a responsibility to sustain and support it in every possible way.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Labour/Co-operative 2.