§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he is taking to encourage increased Japanese investment in industrial projects in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe Government extend the same welcome to proposals by Japanese companies to invest in industrial projects in the United Kingdom as to similar proposals from other foreign companies. All the incentives and forms of assistance which are designed to encourage such investment are available to foreign and United Kingdom companies on an equal basis. I visited Japan at the beginning of April to correct any false impressions which might have been caused by Hitachi's decision last year to withdraw its proposal to establish a factory in the United Kingdom and to encourage Japanese investment further. I am considering following this up with another visit later this year. My Department will hold seminars in Japan this autumn, as part of what is a continuous programme of promotion of the advantages of the United Kingdom as a base for manufacture for the European and wider markets.