§ Mr. Hardyasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to make decisions or offer further opinion to the European Economic Community in regard to proposals to secure further contraction of the steel industry in the United Kingdom and in the other member states.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Commission's proposals on steel policy were considered by Ministers of the Twelve at the
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Table 1 United Kingdom direct investment in developing countries1 £ million 21981 21982 21983 1984 1985 Acquisition of share and loan capital in companies in the developing countries 341 230 658 978 1,304 Disposal of share and loan capital in companies in the developing countries 25 613 148 101 202 Reinvested Earnings from direct investments in developing countries 590 540 605 1,158 761 Net Total 906 157 1,115 2,035 1,863 Industry Council on 21 September. The Council agreed to invite the Commission to appoint a group of three wise persons to advise the Council on how adequate commitments to the reduction of production capacity can be obtained. The wise persons have been asked to report by Mid-November. The next meeting of the Industry Council is scheduled for 8 December.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the proportion by which the steel industry has contracted both in terms of production volume and job loss in Britain and in the other member states of the EEC since 1979.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe information requested can be found in the "Iron and Steel Statistical Yearbook 1986" and the "Iron and Steel Quarterly Statistics" published by Eurostat, copies of which are in the Library of the House.