§ 19. Gillian MerronTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to consult industry about improving the competitiveness of British companies. [5222]
§ Mrs. BeckettCompetitiveness must be improved by a partnership between government and business. Therefore, in addition to current discussions, I am establishing a competitiveness advisory group which will be drawn mainly from the business community. That group and working parties will help me to develop policies for a new White Paper on competitiveness, which we hope will be published in early 1998.
§ Gillian MerronI congratulate my right hon. Friend on taking very forward-looking and positive action, which will further enhance the success of companies such as European Gas Turbines, which is in my constituency of Lincoln. That company's success has been built on its ability to embrace change and partnership. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the consultation has been welcomed by business as genuine consultation—which commenced when Labour was in opposition and is now proving that this Government are truly the Government of business?
§ Mrs. BeckettI thank my hon. Friend. Like her, I welcome the success of European Gas Turbines, which has recently won two Queen's awards—one for exports and one for environmentally friendly technology. As she is well aware, the company has turned around its prospects in recent years and is showing increasing success. We are very appreciative of the support and interest shown by the business community in taking forward this work and believe that it is the kind of partnership that has turned that company around that can turn the country around.
§ Mr. ForthBefore the right hon. Lady proceeds any further with her consideration of competition and competitiveness policies, will she please sort out the confusion caused in the House this afternoon by utterly contradictory statements on the important issue of possible shareholdings held by her ministerial team, which might be in direct conflict with their responsibilities for the conduct of competition policy?
§ Mrs. BeckettI have no idea why the Opposition are continuing to flog this matter. Such matters are to be handled and supervised according to the Nolan procedures, and I know that that process is taking place. The right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) asked a string of questions on precisely how far that process has been taken, but I have to say, quite bluntly, that what all this questioning, pressure and concern tell me is not that the Conservatives are concerned about high standards of behaviour but that they are absolutely livid that a senior and widely respected British business man is a Labour Minister.