Emerging consensus?
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MANY hasty comments have been made on the planned take-over of Chrysler UK by Peugeot-Citroen/but at least it is now emerging that no hasty Government decision will be made. More than one post-war Government has had painful experience of dabbling in the motor industry.
On the commercial vehicle side we cannot refrain from speculating that the take-over would give Chrysler UK scope for greater market penetration on the Continent, and presumably the French-made light commercials would eventually be assembled in Britain, and so attack our large but crowded market.
The car side will provide the more thorny problem, and Eric Varley, Secretary of State for Trade, is undertaking a widespread consultation exercise in the industry. Nevertheless, a decision is expected "within weeks" rather than months.
How our hand would be strengthened if industrial relations on the manufacturing side were at least no worse than those prevailing in the haulage industry.