§ Sir Russell Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what directions were conveyed by him to Her Majesty's ambassador in Rome to seek to discourage the Italian Government from giving public support to the European consortium's bid for Westland Helicopters; when these directions were sent; and what form they took.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make public the text of the communications sent to Her Majesty's Government's embassy in Rome referred to by the right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine) in the debate on Westland plc on Wednesday 15 January.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the instruction issued to his officials in Italy about Italian involvement in the Westland consortium.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweOn 7 January the Italian Prime Minister issued a statement which said, among other things, that the Italian Government hoped it would still be possible to choose the European option. This was the first public statement on the matter by the Italian Government.
It is not our policy to publish the texts of confidential telegrams. However, following this statement, on 8 January Her Majesty's ambassador in Rome was instructed to point out to the Italian Prime Minister's office that the British Government's position on Westland's prospects for European collaboration had been set out in the Prime Minister's letter of 1 January to Sir John Cuckney.
This letter had been published. Lord Bridges was instructed also to emphasise that Westland was a private company and that it was for the Board of Westland and the shareholders to decide on the relative merits of the proposals made by Sikorsky-Fiat and by the European consortium. It was not helpful for Governments to make public statements about matters of this kind which were internal to the United Kingdom and the concern of the private sector.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning any part played by his Department, and specifically Her Majesty's embassy in Rome, in relation to plans to assist Westland plc.
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§ Sir Geoffrey HoweInterested posts abroad were informed of the Government's policy on Westlands. So far as Her Majesty's embassy in Rome is concerned, on 7 January the Italian Prime Minister issued a statement which said, among other things, that the Italian Government hoped it would still be possible to choose the European option. This was the first public statement on the matter by the Italian Government.
Following this statement, on 8 January Her Majesty's ambassador in Rome was instructed to point out to the Italian Prime Minister's office that the British Government's position on Westland's prospects for European collaboration had been set out in the Prime Minister's letter of 1 January to Sir John Cuckney.
This letter had been published. Lord Bridges was instructed also to emphasise that Westland was a private company and that it was for the Board of Westland and the shareholders to decide on the relative merits of the proposals made by Sikorsky-Fiat and by the European consortium. It was not helpful for Governments to make public statements about matters of this kind which were internal to the United Kingdom and the concern of the private sector.