§ 41. Mr. Alexander Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish details of the responsibilities of Ministers within his Department.
§ Mr. VarleyYes. The Minister of State, the right hon. Lord Beswick, deals with iron and stell; the aircraft and shipbuilding industries; general manufacturing industry—including chemicals and textiles, minerals, metals, electrical engineering, process plant and industrial technologies, mechanical engineering, vehicles computers, systems and electronics, and paper, timber and miscellaneous manufacturing industry; and industrial research and development.
The Minister of State, Mr. Gregor Mackenzie, deals with the Post Office, regional policy; regional industrial finance, regional industrial distribution; 360W regional development grants; investment grants; regional offices, and small firms.
The Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Gerald Kaufman, deals with the Industry Bill; the National Enterprise Board, and planning agreements. Mr. Kaufman also speaks for the Department in the House of Commons on matters for which Lord Beswick has responsibility as Minister of State.