§ Mr. McMasterasked the Minister of Technology (1) if he will make a statement on the result of his negotiations with the Rohr Corporation of the United States of America to take an equity interest in Short Brothers and Harland, and on his plans for the financial reconstruction of this company;
(2) if he will make a statement on the result of his negotiations with the Rohr Corporation to take an equity interest in Short Brothers and Harland Limited, Belfast; and what are his plans for the financial reconstruction of the company.
§ Mr. BennAs my hon. Friend informed the House on 16th April 1969, proposals for the acquisition of a shareholding in Shorts were received earlier this year from the Rohr Corporation. After careful consideration of these proposals, the Government have decided that they are not acceptable and have notified Rohr of their decision. We have accordingly resumed an examination of proposals for the reconstruction of Shorts which was deferred pending the results of our negotiations with Rohr. Consideration of these proposals will necessarily take some time but I will inform the House as soon as a definite stage has been reached.—[Vol. 781, c. 1144.]