§ Mr. McMasterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will issue general directions to nationalised industries to bear in mind the advantages of leasing when acquiring plant and equipment.
§ Mr. EmeryNo. Guidance on the leasing of plant and machinery has already been given to the nationalised industries. These guidelines are intended not to exclude leasing altogether but to exclude leasing transactions that would result in a board's not owning its main operating assets or in a loss to the public sector as a whole.