§ 25. Mr. Bevanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to encourage insurance companies to make more funds available to help revive the major industrial areas.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneInvestment decisions taken by insurance companies must reflect their obligations to their policyholders and shareholders; they are not appropriate matters for Government guidance. However, I am sure that institutional investors are increasingly aware that there are viable investment opportunities in areas where the physical and human resources are now under-used, and I know of a growing volume of initiatives in both the public and private sectors to promote this awareness—for example, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment's financial institutions group.