§ Mr. Haywardasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the Government's policy towards the announcement by the General Electric Company about the company's discussions with British Aerospace of the possible acquisition of the share capital of British Aerospace by the General Electric Company.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI made a statement to the House on 16 May about the Government's attitude towards the announcement of discussions between Thorn EMI and British Aerospace. The considerations set out in that statement would also apply to any proposal to acquire the share capital of BAe put to the shareholders of BAe by GEC. Subject to the considerations being satisfied, the Government's policy towards any proposals made by GEC to the shareholders of BAe would be the same as that set out in the final paragraph of my statement.