§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list those topics on which it is not his practice to answer parliamentary questions; and if he will list any changes in the practice of his Department since 3 May.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is not possible to provide a definitive and exhaustive list of questions which my right hon. Friend might decline to answer on grounds other than cost. Each question will continue to be considered on its merits, but, by way of example, the following questions would fall into this category
Details of financial assistance to individual companies except to confirm details of regional development grant and selective assistance published in Trade and Industry;Commercially confidential matters including, for example, statistical information about individual businesses;Individual applications for industrial development certificates;Matters which are the responsibility of public bodies, i.e. day to day matters, including statistics other than national;Confidential details of research contracts;Matters under negotiation with other countries in multi-national fora.