§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up an inward investment board; and how many countries have this type of board.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonInward direct investment which contributes substantially to our economy is generally welcomed. We have adequate powers and interdepartmental arrangements for seeing that, in any particular case, the national interest is safeguarded. I see no need to create new machinery.
Most other industrialised countries have arrangements for monitoring and screening inward investment proposals and some have comprehensive powers similar to our own, but so far as I am aware only three or four of them have institutions which might resemble the type of board suggested.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what foreign investment came into Great Britain in 1974 and 1975; and into what areas.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonData for the United Kingdom are set out in the table below. Corresponding figures for Great Britain alone, or for its component areas, are not available.