HC Deb 19 December 1990 vol 183 cc186-7W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken to ensure that the treatment of Cammell Laird shipyard conforms with the principles of the European Community's directive on aid to shipbuilding to ensure that the progress towards the full achievement of the internal market is carried out on an equal and equitable basis in respect of all Community yards.

Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 18 December 1990]: The general question of Cammell Laird's ineligibility for intervention fund was explored in depth with the European Commission by the former Minister of State for Industry in October. The hon. Member for Birkenhead sought and received, on 5 December 1990, at column 297, at commitment that a further approach would be made to the Commission in respect of specific orders for which Cammell Laird was competing and for which the company requested intervention fund support. The particular order for which the company was then bidding has subsequently been placed with another yard which offered a different specification. We await a suitable further order on which to base a further approach to the Commission.

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