§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if his instruction to the Scottish Development Agency to carry out an analysis of the prospects for the steel industry in Scotland allows it to examine the prospects for an independent steel industry;
(2) if he will give a specific instruction to the Scottish Development Agency to engage in a study of the feasibility of an independent Scottish steel industry based upon British Steel plant and assets in Scotland.
79W
§ Mr. LangThe Scottish Development Agency has been asked to examine the prospects for the steel industry in Scotland and to seek to identify any opportunities. It is intended that the analysis will be wide ranging and will seek to identify any present and future opportunities in the sector. It would not be appropriate to restrict the scope of this exercise by imposing any prior assumptions about the ownership or control of existing or potential operations in Scotland.