§ Adam PriceTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what the Government's definition of a British company is; [36069]
(2) on what basis he decided that LNM Holdings was a British company; [36064]
(3) on what criteria he judged the LNM group to be British; [36737]
(4) what his policy is on congratulating foreign Governments on granting contracts to companies with British connections; [36071]
(5) on how many occasions in the past year he has written to his European counterparts regarding the awarding of contracts to companies with British interests; [36070]
(6) what criteria he uses to decide whether an attempted overseas acquisition by an individual or company seeking assistance from him would be in the national interest; and what process of assessment takes place against these criteria; [36736]
(7) if he will list the (a) individuals and (b) companies since 1997 which have received assistance from himself and his Office in attempts to acquire assets overseas. [36738]
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will publish the text of his letter to the Prime Minister of Romania about the sale of that country's steel company, Sidex; and when the text was made available to LNM Holdings; [37011]
(2) if he will list the letters he has written in the last 12 months to foreign Governments following British companies winning business abroad, stating in each case (a) the Government concerned, (b) the name of the British company, (c) the place of registration of the company, (d) the nature of the contract, (e) the date the contract in question was signed and (f) the date the letter was sent; [37014]
(3)(a) by whom and (b) when he was informed that a contract had been awarded by the Government of Romania to privatise Sidex. [37012]
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§ The Prime MinisterThere is no formal legal definition of a British company.
Each case is considered on its merits in terms of the overall potential benefit to UK business and to the UK economy. A number of factors will be relevant in considering this including whether the company is incorporated or registered in Britain, whether the company has a UK address, whether a company is UK controlled or owned, whether it employs people in the UK, whether it has a UK manufactured product or service, and whether there are wider benefits for the UK, in terms of increased access to overseas markets, increased employment or increased competitiveness.
The LNM Group is a global organisation with a headquarters in London, which includes UK registered companies and which employs people in the UK. London and the UK benefit from the location of groups such as LNM here which reflect its position as a global centre for business.
As I have made clear I signed the letter on the advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the ambassador in Bucharest. The decision to award the contract had already been made when I signed the letter, as the text of the letter made clear. This letter is already in the public domain. With the agreement of the Romanian Government, this letter was read out at the signing ceremony in Bucharest on 25 July 2001.
There was nothing extraordinary about my letter to the Romanian Government. I have written regularly to other leaders concerning contracts in which there is a British commercial interest. I have also lobbied fellow leaders in person and over the telephone on behalf of British business. Ministers in successive Governments have fought for British interests abroad and I regard this as an important part of my job.
It is not normal practice to release letters from the Prime Minister to another Head of Government under exemption 1(b) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Exemption 13 of the Code also applies with regard to commercial confidentiality.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent representations the Government have made to the European Union regarding the impact of enlargement of the European Union on the British steel industry; [36065]
(2) what representations the Government have made to the Romanian Government regarding the steel industry since January 2001; [36072]
(3) what recent representations the Government have made to the European Union regarding acceptability of Romania for accession to the European Union; [36068]
(4) on what criteria he suggested to the Romanian Prime Minister on 23 July 2001 that the acquisition of the sidex steel plant by the LNM group would assist Romania's membership to the European Union; [36735]
(5) what communication the Government have had with Governments of other EU member states regarding the privatisation of the Romanian state-owned steel industry. [36740]
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§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Prime Minister (1) when(a) he and (b) his staff have met representatives of the Government of Romania to discuss that country's accession to the European Union; [37016]
(2) what effect he estimates there will be on the UK from the sale of Sidex to LNM Holdings; [37015]
(3) what assessment he has made of how the sale of Sidex to a British company will assist Romania's admission to the European Union. [37013]
§ The Prime MinisterUK support for Romanian EU accession, once Romania fulfils the conditions for membership, has long been on the record. It is our firm view that enlargement of the EU will be of economic and political benefit to existing members and candidate countries.
Together with our European partners, we have encouraged the Romanian Government to complete the privatisation of the Romanian steel industry as part of the process of creating a fully-functioning market economy, one of the fundamental criteria for Romania's EU accession.
We have consistently supported the interests of British business in the EU enlargement process, including those of the British steel industry, through the relevant EU fora.
The sale of Sidex strengthens UK/Romania relations. It sends a strong positive signal to investors and businessman in Britain about market liberalisation and investment opportunities in Romania. The UK has strong interest in steps that help towards the reconstruction of the Romanian economy and towards its membership of the European Union. Privatisation of its steel industry through the sale of Sidex is an important element in its economic reform which will help to establish a level playing field between EU and Romanian steel producers and should lead to a reduction in levels of state subsidies which disadvantage UK steel producers. the privatisation did not threaten British jobs.
I met the previous Romanian President, Emil Constantinescu, in Strasbourg in October 1997, during my visit to Bucharest in May 1999 and in London in February 2000. During my visit to Bucharest in May 1999 I also met the then Prime Minister Radu Vasile, and I met the current Prime Minister Adrian Nastase during his official visit in November 2001. On each occasion I emphasised my support for Romanian EU accession.