§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether any part of the aid granted to BL has proved unacceptable to the European Commission pursuant to the rules covering fair competition within the Community.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe Commission has not stated that any part of the aid package is unacceptable. The total funding proposed—£990 million for 1981–83—is substantial and complicated and the Commission needs time to study it in depth. The Commission has, therefore, agreed to a first payment of £380 million and is now looking at the balance of the funding. No conclusions have yet been reached by the Commission, but the Government do not envisage any changes in their plans for aiding the restructuring and development of the company.