§ Mr. Powleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in seeking alternatives to the CLOFT scheme rejected by the EEC, so that assistance can be given to the footwear and leather industries.
§ Mr. ChannonThe proposed CLOFT scheme envisaged assistance to eligible small firms in the footwear, clothing, knitting and textile industries, but not to the leather industry. As regards footwear, we are considering a proposal from the industry, as my hon. and learned Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for corporate and consumer affairs informed the House on 23 October. We do not regard this as an alternative to CLOFT, which was a sectoral aid scheme.