HC Deb 10 April 1978 vol 947 cc951-2
2. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he now intends to meet his opposite number in the EEC Council of Industry Ministers.

The Under-Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. Les Huckfield)

There are no current proposals for the Ministers of Industry of the member States to assemble in Council. When industrial matters arise which require collective ministerial consideration, they can be treated by the Council of Ministers (Foreign Affairs) with the participation of other interested Ministers.

Mr. Dykes

Now that the Summit Meeting has launched the beginnings of a concerted economic plan for the whole of the EEC, would it not be right for all the Industry Ministers in all the member States to get together to see what they can do with their own national industries, and what can be done by British industry to contribute to a faster growth in Europe, as the only means eventually by which to try to get unemployment down?

Mr. Huckfield

That can be considered as and when the need arises, but I am sure that the hon. Gentleman realises that most industrial policy matters are currently carried out by Commission working groups. We are involved in a large number of those. The need certainly has not arisen yet.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Does not the Minister think that the time has now come to have a Council of Industry Ministers to consider, among other matters, the competition taking place between member Governments to give subsidies to textiles, shipbuilding, assisted areas and so on? Does he not agree that member Governments, including the British, are tending to give subsidies to industry in a way which might simply put workers out of jobs in other member countries? Would it not be better to develop a Community approach in order to sort out troubled market areas?

Mr. Huckfield

I hope that the hon. Gentleman realises that our schemes of assistance have to be considered by the Commission. Our schemes of assistance are certainly not the only ones in member States, because many other States carry them out. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will accept, however, that on 19th-20th December the Council of Ministers agreed a package on steel. A draft directive on shipbuilding assistance has already been agreed, and we are already involved in many other discussions.