§ Mr. ClayTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North of 20 February,Official Report, column 781, and to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) of 20 February, Official Report, column 783, if he will list which organisations or 343W individuals within the borough of Sunderland made representations to him opposing the recommencement of shipbuilding at the Southwick shipyard.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 27 February 1990]: Representations have been made in private discussions questioning whether a return to shipbuilding some years hence, and the uncertainties that must be inherent in such a proposal, represents the best prospect for the long-term development of Sunderland and of the sites in question.
§ Mr. ClayTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what legal basis the European Commission has to approve or disapprove the sale of land within the United Kingdom to companies within the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 27 February 1990]: Article 222 EEC states that
This Treaty should in no way prejudice the rules in Member States governing the system of property ownership".However, the Commission of the European Communities, acting under articles 92–93 EEC and any relevant Community legal instruments, may include conditions on the use of land as part of the terms on which it approves state aid where such use is material to the case concerned. Thus, for example, the payment of closure aid for shipbuilding allows the Commission to impose conditions on the use of the site concerned, and that would need to be reflected in any subsequent disposal of that land.