HC Deb 02 May 1984 vol 59 cc351-2
30. Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on competition policy.

Mr. Fletcher

The promotion of competition is one of the Government's most central and fundamental policies. It is a major aspect of our responsibilities to encourage competition in all sectors of the economy and to seek to ensure that competition considerations are given due weight in all policy decisions.

Mr. Gould

Does the Minister recognise that the ability of British industry to compete for large overseas orders in respect of capital projects is of the greatest importance and will he therefore take this opportunity of rejecting the analysis and the conclusions of the Byatt report? Does he further recognise the widespread concern created by the report's publication and the great damage that unilateral withdrawal of such Government support would inflict on British industry?

Mr. Fletcher

The hon. Gentleman's question is not directly related to competition policy, as he is raising a question of trade policy, which is different from the subject of the question.