§ 16. Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for Industry what conversations he has had with the Commission of the EEC to ascertain whether the policy contained in the Ryder Report concerning British Leyland is in conformity with the Treaty of Rome; and what reply he has received.
§ Mr. MeacherThe Commission was informed of the Government's proposals for British Leyland in accordance with established procedures. The Government have now been informed that the Commission has raised no objections to these proposals. The Commission has asked to be kept informed at the appropriate time of the details of the various successive phases of implementation of the programme.
§ 35. Mr. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the criteria adopted in excluding confidential information in the Ryder Report on British Leyland.
§ Mr. MeacherThe information that has been excluded from the Ryder Report is of a commercial nature which would be of value to British Leyland's competitors.
§ 38. Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will ensure that investment plans for British Leyland are 2W undertaken in consultation with the British machine tool industry.
§ Mr. MeacherIt is the Government's hope that the investment planned for British Leyland will have a beneficial effect on production and employment in other parts of the engineering industry. My Department has arranged for discussions to be held between British Leyland and the machine tool industry about future machine tool requirements, and an initial meeting took place on 2nd June.