§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Industry what study he has made of the practice by foreign car manufacturers of offering interest-free loans to purchasers; and what effect he calculates that this has had on the British car industry.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the fact that purchasers of Fiat cars are being offered hire-purchase loans by the company concerned at 5 per cent., if he will investigate the effects of this on the United Kingdom market for car sales.
166Wthe reduction of aircraft noise are expected to be about £70,000 in 1977–78; work aimed at fuel economy is integrated with other interests and cannot, at this stage, be usefully segregated. We are engaged in discussion with British Aerospace, which will be taking financial responsibility for much of the work previously funded by this Department; until these are further advanced it is not possible to give reliable estimates for expenditure in 1978–79.