§ 18. Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make an estimate of the cost to public funds of the present levels of manning and labour productivity in the British Steel Corporation.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIt would be difficult to make a precise estimate of the kind my hon. Friend has in mind. Productivity has improved dramatically in BSC over the past year, but as the chairman himself has remarked, productivity is a moving target.
§ 23. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether agreement has now been reached with the European Economic Community Commission on the amount of Government finance for the British Steel Corporation.
§ Mr. Norman LamontCommission agreement has already been given for £370 million for BSC this year, and I expect a decision later this month on the remaining £360 million for 1981–82.