§ Ms. QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's attitude to the Commission's proposal for a Council directive providing for changes to the seventh Council directive on aid to shipbuilding of 2 December 1990 SEC 92 (991)—final;
(2) if he has given consideration to designating as an agenda B point at the Council meeting scheduled for 20 July the Commission's proposal for a Council directive 966W providing for changes to the seventh Council directive on aid to shipbuilding of 2 December 1990, SEC (92) 991—final;
(3) what evaluation his Department has made of the effect of the United Kingdom and EC shipbuilding industries of the Commission proposal for a Council directive providing for changes to the seventh Council directive on aid to shipbuilding of 2 December 1990, SEC (92) 991—final;
(4)what account he has taken of the European Parliament's view on current EC proposals to aid shipyards in east Germany; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesThe Government support the Commission proposal which will help alleviate the severe economic difficulties facing eastern Germany. The proposal contains safeguards which should ensure that the United Kingdom and other EC shipbuilding industries are not adversely affected. The European Parliament opinion on the Commission proposal will be discussed at a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives today. The dossier would then normally go to a Council meeting for final adoption.