§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department has yet received a request asking for Government support for increased investment in the future in the mechanical construction engineering industry covered by the national agreement of the engineering construction industry; what factors he will take into consideration when deciding on such Government support; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Butcher[pursuant to the reply, 16 December 1983]: My Department is not considering a request for increasing Government support to the engineering construction industry. But it does operate a number of schemes to assist the development of new technology and to assist investment in new plant by manufacturers. Each application is assisted on its merits against criteria that receive wide publicity.