§ Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has yet received a response from the European Economic Community Commission to the proposed scheme of investment support for small and medium sized firms in the clothing, footwear, knitting and textile industries; and when the scheme will be introduced.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe European Commission has informed us that it has opened a procedure under Article 93(2) of the Treaty of Rome, whereby other Member States and other interested parties are given an opportunity to comment on the proposed scheme before the Commission decides whether to clear it. It is unlikely that the scheme will be introduced until late in the year.