§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the official record of his meeting with Sir Raymond Lygo of 8 January was submitted to him for approval before it was finalised; and why the minute of the meeting on 8 January was not signed until 10 January.
§ Mr. BrittanThe record was read to me over the telephone. The meeting concluded at 17.40 on 8 January, the note was dictated on 9 January, and signed, dated and circulated about lunchtime on 10 January, following confirmation by all those present from the Department that it was an accurate record.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the draft manuscript notes of 8 January, taken by officials, recorded at his meeting with Sir Raymond Lygo.
§ Mr. BrittanNo.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what other minutes or records were made by officials in his Department of his meeting with Sir Raymond Lygo on 8 January other than the single published record sent to the private secretary of the Minister of State, dated 10 January.
16W
Size of holdings Number of holdings Percentage of total Number of shares held (millions) Percentage of total (i) 1–399 472,025 28.6 93 1.6 (ii)400–799 793, 786 48.1 362 6.0
§ Mr. BrittanThe record prepared by my private secretary, and published on 15 January, was circulated following confirmation by all those present from the Department that it was an accurate record.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if at any time in his conversation with Sir Raymond Lygo on 8 January the question of British Aerospace's withdrawal from the European consortium on Westland helicopters was discussed.
§ Mr. BrittanNo.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposed at his meeting on 8 January to Sir Raymond Lygo, following his statement that the European consortium bid might affect sales of the A 320.
§ Mr. BrittanI said I was ready to act immediately in defending British Aerospace's interest.
§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has had any discussions with representatives of the United States Government about whether the involvement of Fiat in the offer to Westland would bring the company within the United States trade embargo with Libya.
§ Mr. BrittanNo.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what access Mr. Jeffrey Archer has been given to his Department's papers relating to Westland.
§ Mr. BrittanNone.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he expected to be consulted by British Aerospace prior to its joining the European consortium on Westlands.
§ Mr. BrittanI did not expect to be consulted. I said it might have been helpful if British Aerospace had spoken to me.