§ Mr. JackTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if she will make a statement on the linkage between recent applications made by Rolls-Royce and British Aerospace for launch aid and the outstanding decision on the foreign shareholder limits as they affect these two companies; [25666]
(2) what assessment she has made of the impact on British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce of the restrictions placed on potential overseas investors by the present foreign shareholder limits; and when she expects to be able to announce her decisions on the adjustment of those limits; [25497]
(3) when she received representations from British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce about changes to foreign shareholder limits; what requirements have still to be met before she is able to make a decision on this matter; and when an announcement will be made; [25496]
359W(4) from which Government Departments she is awaiting views on the proposals relating to foreign shareholder limits affecting British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce. [25495]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 27 January 1998]: I received a request from British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce last July for the Government's consent to certain changes to the companies' articles of association. These proposals are being considered carefully by the relevant Government Departments, and this has included an assessment of the present foreign shareholder limits on the activities of those companies. I hope that the Government will be able to respond to this request relatively soon.