HC Deb 26 November 1993 vol 233 cc249-50W
Ms Quin

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Industry Council of 18 November.

Mr. Sainsbury

The Council was dominated by lengthy discussion of six requests for derogations from the steel state aids code for Sidenor and CSI, Spain: Freital and Ekostahl, Germany Ilva, Italy; and Siderurgia Nacional, Portugal. At its September meeting, the Council confirmed the obligation to apply the state aids code, and made particular reference to eliminating operating cost subsidies. Certain of the cases before the November Council did not meet these criteria. Agreement was not reached, and the Council is likely to meet on 17 December to consider the cases further.

There was insufficient time to discuss the other items on the agenda—EC industry policy; the Commission's 22nd competition policy report and the Maritime Industries Forum.