HC Deb 17 March 1980 vol 981 cc54-5W
Mr. Woolmer

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what view the Government have taken towards the European Commission's draft instrument on Community aid for industrial restructuring and conversion in the shipbuilding and textile industries; and if he will lend his support to the view that the natural fibre wool textile industry should be included in the aid scheme in his discussions within the Council of Ministers.

Mr. David Mitchell

[pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1980]: The European Commission's general proposals for financial aid to industrial undertakings in selected sectors in crisis designated shipbuilding and textiles as two such sectors. Member States, including the United Kingdom, were not prepared to accept these proposals and the Commission has been asked to reformulate them. We are awaiting these revised proposals. We would certainly hope that the natural fibre wool textile industry would not be excluded from consideration.