§ Mr. Normantonasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will summarise the main differences between the proposals contained in the EEC Commission draft Directive on Aids to Shipbuilding dated 7th May 1975 and the decision taken by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on 10th July 1975.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe main differences are as follows:
- (i) Article 2.3, which sets out the information on State aids to shipbuilding to be given to the Commission, has been amended to make it more precise and to make clear that the Commission will not
371 disclose the information but will use it as a basis for overall reports to be discussed with the member States. - (ii) Articles 4 and 5, which provide for the Commission to be informed of State aids to investment and rescue operations for firms in difficulty, have been amended to make clear that they apply to companies engaged in the building, repair and conversion of ships.
The text agreed by the Council of Ministers will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. I am placing copies in the Libraries of both Houses.