§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Industry what action the Government have taken following the decisions announced at the NEDC meeting on 2nd February 1977 to concentrate assistance on five key industrial sectors; and whether he will make a statement on the progress of the industrial strategy in those sectors.
§ Mr. CryerThe Government's proposal, which was approved by the National Economic Development Council meeting on 2nd February, was to seek to bring various policy instruments to bear in a concentrated way on the five sectors to exploit opportunities and eliminate constraints identified by the sector working parties. Officials have subsequently held discussions in the Industrial Strategy Staff Group with the other parties involved in the industrial strategy programme on the ways in which this initiative should be pursued. My hon. Friend the Minister of State or I have attended meetings of four of the five sector working parties concerned so as to identify the particular issues that should be pursued, and I hope to meet the fifth working party next week. Talks628W are now being planned with a number of individual companies in each sector.