§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the effect on the prospects for investment in Britain of the recent industrial disputes.
§ Mr. ButcherAlthough an upsurge in industrial disputes inevitably harms the climate for investment, their effect has been confined largely to the coal industry. The Department's last investment intentions survey indicated a rise of over 9 per cent. in 1984 in the volume of investment by manufacturing, construction, distribution and selected service industries and a further increase in 1985. This view was confirmed for manufacturing industry, by the CBI's quarterly industrial trends survey published on 30 October.