§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report a summary of the main recommendations of the report from the Sector Working Paper on the domestic electrical appliances industry listing the preliminary recommendations submitted to date, together with the action taken so far.
Mr. Alan Williams,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th November 1976], gave the following information:
The first report of the Sector Working Party for domestic electrical appliances, which made a number of recommendations for action by Government, management and unions, has already been placed in the Library of the House. The following is a summary of the main recommendations put to Government together with an outline of the action taken so far:
Recommendation.—The Government were asked to make a commitment towards a more stable home market. The SWP suggested guidelines for future changes in VAT and credit controls.
Action.—The Government have indicated their appreciation of the importance for the industry of this recommendation.
Recommendation.—The Government were asked to co-operate with the appliance industry in seeking ways to foster a healthy expanding supply sector.
Action.—The Department of Industry has undertaken a study of material and component supply to the appliance industry. The Government are looking at the possibility of providing assistance for expanding capacity in this sector.
Recommendation.—Despite the EEC "Low Voltage Directive", some United Kingdom manufacturers have complained of difficulties in obtaining approval for their products: the Government was asked to assist.
Action.—The Government are investigating specific instances where difficulties have arisen in obtaining product approval.
Recommendation.—There should be more action to detect and prevent dumping.
618WAction.—The Department of Trade has referred to the EEC Competition Directorate a trade association case alleging dumping of automatic washing machines. The Government are co-operating with the industry on furthering the case.
§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report a summary of the main recommendations of the report from the Sector Working Party Paper on the heavy electrical machinery industry listing the preliminary recommendations submitted to date, together with the action taken so far.
Mr. Alan Williams,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th November 1976], gave the following information:
A summary of the recommendations of the Sector Working Party and action taken so far to implement them are listed below.
Recommendations.—Sections of industry to be restructured to form more effective grouping of resources. Government to develop long-term energy and fuel policy. Electricity supply industry to provide 10 year ordering programme. Government should consider authorising and financing of generating boards to enable forward ordering of 5,000MW of fossil-fired plant between 1976 and 1980, with first order for 2,000MW to be placed by end 1976. SGHWR programme should be brought forward.
Action on these recommendations is dependent upon decisions which may arise from CPRS report on the power plant industry and other relevant studies.
Recommendation—Electricity Council's consultancy service to be augmented to enable it to assist with big export contracts.
Action—The Council has recently formed a new company, British Electricity International, to strengthen the overseas consultancy services.
Recommendation—Government to consider improving provisions for export assistance through ECGD credit and interest rates, pre-shipment finance, turnkey contracts and cost escalation cover.
Action—ECGD has explained to the Sector Working Party some of the constraints within which it operates, and the 619W paper by the Industrial Strategy Staff Group for the July NEDC meeting—a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House—gave the Government's general response to SWP recommendations in this area. These issues are being further considered by the Roll Committee and its working party under Lord Seebohm, which is tackling in the first instance the problems of excess risk attached to multi-million pound contracts.