HC Deb 26 January 1981 vol 997 c281W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will consult Courtaulds Ltd. with a view to reaching an agreement with it as to the extent of the assistance it would need from the Government to end the sale and export of Sulzer weaving machines and other machinery generally.

Mr. MacGregor

No. Such assistance, which in equity could not be confined to Courtaulds, would not be the best use of the limited public funds available for industry. For example, it would conflict with firms' commercial judgments that certain machinery no longer offered the prospect of continuing competitive efficiency.