§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to impose fiscal or other penalties on multinational firms which close down profitable factories in the United Kingdom in order to subsidise loss-making plants in other countries.
§ Mr. Wakeham[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1983, c. 438]: The Government welcome foreign investment for the benefits it yields to the United Kingdom economy. Companies cannot be expected to invest here by choice unless they are free to conduct their operations in the light of their best commercial judgment.