§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his departmental officials including regional officials have received from Appledore, Devon regarding Pallion Engineering Ltd., Sunderland. [33765]
§ Mr. EggarMy officials have not received any representations from Appledore Ltd. about Pallion Engineering Ltd. of Sunderland.
§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he last discussed the future of Pallion Engineering Ltd. with the European Commissioner responsible for competition; [33763]
(2) when his Department's officials last met representatives of the European Commissioner responsible for competition to discuss Pallion Engineering Ltd., Sunderland. [33762]
§ Mr. EggarMy right hon. Friend the then Minister for Industry, corresponded with the European Commissioner responsible for competition about the future of Pallion Engineering in July 1994. A number of meetings have taken place since then between officials of my Department and those of the Directorate General for Competition to discuss the shipbuilding industry generally and those officials discussed Pallion most recently by telephone on 4 July 1995.
§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received regarding Pallion Engineering Ltd., Sunderland; and if he will make a statement. [33764]
§ Mr. EggarMinisters and officials have received approximately 15 representations about Pallion Engineering since July 1994. I have agreed to meet a delegation of hon. Members to discuss the constraints imposed on Pallion Engineering by the European Community's seventh shipbuilding directive.