asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the National Enterprise Board will be allowed to buy shares in a profitable company that is not threatened with a foreign take-over except with the knowledge or voluntary approval of the company's board, shareholders and employees.

It has been made clear that the NEB will acquire shareholdings only by agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will allow investment by individuals or institutions in the National Enterprise Board.

No, not in the NEB itself. But the Industry Bill provides that the NEB may form bodies corporate, or partnerships, and there might be opportunities for individuals or institutions to invest in these.