§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards large-scale mergers in the United Kingdom defence industry; [65617]
(2) what plans he has to encourage competition in the United Kingdom defence industry. [65625]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 14 January 1999]: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear since his statement with the French and German Heads of Government in December 1997, there is an urgent need to restructure the aerospace and defence industries in Europe to compete in world markets.
It is for industry itself, not Government, to make specific proposals for restructuring. Any resulting merger would be considered on its own merits by the relevant competition authorities.