§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement about the development of the plastics industry.
§ Mr. CryerThe Government's petrochemical strategy as outlined in my answer of 10th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Dean) stresses the importance we attach to downstream developments, including530W high value intermediates such as plastic materials. My Department is also playing an active role in the work of the tripartite NEDC Plastics Steering Committee which is concerned with the processing side of the industry. Recent initiatives where we have given positive assistance have been the establishment of the Polymer Products Development Centre at Shawbury and the sponsorship of a project to assist firms in the South Wales area from which I hope lessons for the whole United Kingdom plastics processing industry will emerge.