HL Deb 18 June 1996 vol 573 cc22-3WA
Lord Tebbit

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they regard it as compatible with the obligations of European Union member states to refrain from unauthorised national subsidies to commerce and industry that the French Government should maintain responsibility for the pensions of employees of France Telecom after the proposed partial privatisation of that business.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

We agree that any continuing state involvement with France Telecom should be compatible with EU state aid and competition rules. We are therefore looking closely at the recently announced proposals for partial privatisation.