§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the amount of Government subsidy per tonne of steel in (a) Belgium, (b) France, (c) West Germany and (d) the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ButcherThe information is not readily available in the form requested. However the following table, based on Commission sources, gives estimates of the total amount of subsidies notified by the member states referred to for the period 1980–85 under the steel aids decision (2320/81/ECSC). These estimates are expressed in per tonne of average annual capacity.
ECU per tonne Country Average Amount Belgium 126.3 France 145.8 West Germany 67.0 United Kingdom 145.6 Notes:
- (i) A figure for Government subsidies has been arrived at by taking an estimated grant equivalent of the aids notified to the EC Commission (but not necessarily paid) by Member States.
- (ii) This figure has been divided by average annual capacity figures for 1980–85, calculated on the assumption that the Member States concerned respect the Commission's Decisions of 29 June 1983 on aids and restructuring.