Short-termism (Hansard, 18 July 1990)

HC Deb 18 July 1990 vol 176 c632W 632W

§ 49. Dr. Kim Howells
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to make any proposals to control the short-termism in British industry.

§ 120. Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to make any proposals to counter short-termism in British industry.

§ Mr. Lilley
Like my right hon. predecessor, to whom. I pay tribute, I recognise the importance of this. Companies' ability to invest for the long term is a function of their profitability. The profitability of British industry has returned of late to the highest levels for 20 years and business investment has reached record levels.