§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government have any plans to bring the Manchester Steel Co. into the phoenix plan for development of the steel industry in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherThe Government have no such plans. It is for firms in the industry themselves to initiate and carry through restructuring projects which they consider to be commercially sensible. Only plans which involve the establishment of new joint ventures between the British Steel Corporation and the private sector are considered by the Government, on the basis of proposals put forward by the parties concerned.