asked the Secretary of State for Industry which sector working parties of the NEDO have published their reports and how many have not; and who has decided, on the basis of what criteria, that certain sector working party reports should be published whilst others were not.

The following sector working parties have made available versions of the reports submitted at the end of last year: ferrous foundries, non-ferrous foundries, pumps and valves, fluid power equipment, industrial engines, mechanical handling equipment, industrial trucks, construction steelwork, automation and instrumentation, telecommunications, electronic components, electronic computers, industrial electrical equipment, domestic electrical appliances, paper and board, rubber processing. 20 sector working parties have decided not to make their reports available at all or have yet to make a decision on this. It is for the sector working parties themselves to decide whether to release their reports. In arriving at their decisions one factor they no doubt take into account is the importance of not making widely available information which might be valuable to overseas competitors.