§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now raise at the European Economic Community Industry Council the non-compliance of the Belgian Government as regards Corn-mutiny guidelines for grants to ship builders.
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§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe Belgian Government do not provide grants to shipbuilders. The preferential credit scheme operated by the Belgian Government for their domestic shipowners does not infringe EEC competition rules since it is available to Belgian owners on orders placed in any Community shipyard and hence is not regarded by the Commission as discriminating against the shipbuilding industries of other Member States.
The OECD understanding on credit terms for ships—which EEC Member States must comply with under the fourth directive on aids to shipbuilding—applies only to export sales.