§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to promote Government policy in relation to industry. [36808]
§ Mr. EggarDTI Ministers seize every opportunity to further Government policy in relation to industry, to promote the interests of British business and to promote the UK as a location for business investment. Recently, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has set out our policies in relation to industry in a series of keynote speeches, including one in June to the Engineering Employers Federation on the subject of setting enterprise free.
Briefly, the essence of our policy is to promote free enterprises and free trade, with vigourous competition as the driving force.
At home, we adopt a rigorous approach to competition policy, and continue to drive forward the deregulation process. The Department has repealed or amended over 50 pieces of burdensome legislation in the last year alone.
In Europe and beyond, we promote an open trading environment. We have launched a reinvigorated unit—action single market—charged with overcoming illegal barriers and unfair subsidies encountered by British firms in the single market. We are continuing to work with our European partners and in the World Trade Organisation to further the process of multilateral trade liberalisation.
As a result of our commitment to free enterprise, we have seen another record year for inward investment, with over 48,000 new jobs expected to be created as a direct result of investments notified to the Invest in Britain Bureau in 1995–96.