§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the factors underlying the performance of major high street retailing companies since 1987, and on their prospects in the next 12 months.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 22 October 1990]: The performance of the retail sector as a whole is clearly influenced by developments in the economy generally. But the performance of individual retailers depends on the extent to which they meet the needs of their customers. This will no doubt continue to be the case in the next 12 months.