§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will consider such steps as are necessary to adapt the role of the European Investment Bank so that it can provide loans at reasonable rates of interest for industrial development by firms in the private sector.
268WWestern European countries, (d) the United States of America, (e) oil-exporting countries and (f) others, in 1980; and how these figures compare with 1948 and 1970.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to the reply,19 November 1981]: The information which can be provided within acceptable limits of cost is as follows:
§ Mr. MacGregorThe European Investment Bank—EIB—already makes loans to help finance private sector projects in the assisted areas of the United Kingdom. The Government place no restrictions on its ability to do so. The EIB itself is not able to provide subsidised loans since it raises its funds on the international capital markets.