§ 39. Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for In0064ustry what progress he is now making with the survey of the cutlery and flatware industry in conjunction with the Cutlery and Allied Trades Research Association; what proposals he has to assist in the modernisation of the industry, including capital investment programmes; and whether there has been any positive outcome to approaches to the Commission of the EEC.
§ Mr. CryerThe survey of the cutlery and flatware industry, in which my Department has assisted, has been completed. The results will be considered by a working party consisting of an independent chairman and representatives of both sides of the industry, the Sheffield city council and my Department.
The working party will examine ways in which the industry's performance and competitiveness might be improved, and the Government will consider its recommendations most carefully.
We have made no approaches to the EEC Commission since that to which I referred in the Adjournment debate on 24th July—[Official Report, c. 1331–38] —and which led to the imposition of surveillance licensing for all imports of 50W cutlery and flatware into the United Kingdom from outside the EEC.