§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to start discussions leading to planning agreements.
§ Mr. KaufmanFollowing exploratory talks with companies in a number of industrial sectors, I have invited four companies, Babcock and Wilcox, Clarke Chapman, Head Wrightson and Whessoe, to move now to operative discussions about the terms of planning agreements in relation to their process plant fabricating interests, and two companies, GEC and Reyrolle Parsons, in relation to their turbo-generator interests. These six companies have agreed to continue discussions on this basis. In addition, as has already been announced, there will be planning agreements with British Leyland and Chrysler United Kingdom. Exploratory talks with companies in other sectors are still proceeding.