Company Closures (Hansard, 26 February 1991)

§ 15. Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many mill and company closures and redundancies have been notified to his Department in each of the last six months by the textile and clothing industry and the paper and board industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson
As the reply consists of a table of figures, I shall, with permission, arrange for the information to be printed in the Official Report.

§ Mr. Winterton
Does my hon. Friend accept that the textile and clothing and the paper and board industries are vital to many regions of this country, are essential to this country's economy, that many people are employed in them and that they have made many investments? Will he use the best expertise of his Department to ensure that other Departments of State, particularly the Treasury, realise that high interest rates are killing those industries, which are not operating on a level playing field? Those industries are essential if this country is to play its part in the future of the European Community and the world at large.

Mr. Jackson
I agree that those industries are important. I shall draw my hon. Friend's remarks to the attention of my right hon. and hon. Friends in the relevant Departments.

§ Mr. Beggs
The textile and clothing and paper and board industries are of great importance to us in Northern Ireland. Will the Minister seek the co-operation of his Government colleagues to ensure that, in future GATT negotiations, as much protection as possible will be afforded to our textile and clothing industry in Northern Ireland and throughout the United Kingdom?

Mr. Jackson
We all understand in the House that the only sure basis on which industry can succeed is to be competitive. That is why it is Government policy to phase out the protection arrangements in the textile industry, although we shall do so over a long period. That is a matter for the Department of Trade and Industry. The GATT negotiations are about to resume and they will provide an opportunity to further pursue such matters.