HC Deb 29 January 2001 vol 362 cc24-5W
Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the sectoral working parties his Department has in connection with different sections of current United Kingdom manufacturing industry. [146920]

Mr. Alan Johnson

My Department works in partnership with manufacturing sectors to help UK manufacturing compete effectively, and has developed strong working relationships with companies, trade associations, trade unions and other business organisations.

There is no precise definition of which of the partnerships concerned constitute a sectoral working party. However, formal groupings include the Shipbuilding Forum, the Textiles and Clothing Strategy Group, the Aerospace Committee and the Electronics Manufacturing Industry Forum.