asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will draw the attention of the EEC Commissioners to the Republic of Ireland's exports tax relief scheme which is contrary to the EEC's rules on free competition.
I have been asked to reply.At the time of accession to the European Communities the Irish Republic was permitted to retain its tax relief, partly in the light of Protocol 30 to the Treaty of Accession which recognises the Republic's position in the application of Articles 92 and 93 of the Treaty. The British Government have not therefore made any representations to the Trish Government or to the Commission. However, the Treaty of Rome obliges the European Commission to keep under constant review systems of aid of member States, and to ensure that they are compatible with membership of the Common Market.
| INDUSTRY ACT 1972 | ||||||||
| SECTION 7: ASSISTANCE BY INDUSTRIAL SECTOR SINCE 1ST JANUARY 1974 | ||||||||
| Sector | Offers (£ million) | Payments (£ million) | ||||||
| 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | Total | 1974–77 | |||
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | 0·1 |
| Mining and Quarrying | … | … | 0·8 | — | 2·7 | 0·9 | 4·4 | 1·3 |
| Food, Drink and Tobacco | … | … | 4·7 | 4·7 | 2·7 | 4·0 | 16·1 | 9·1 |
| Coal and Petroleum Products | … | … | — | 0·2 | — | — | 0·2 | 0·2 |
| Chemicals and Allied Industries | … | … | 2·6 | 11·7 | 3·0 | 8·6 | 25·9 | 15·1 |
| Metal Manufacture | … | … | 3·0 | 5·3 | 4·9 | 2·1 | 15·3 | 8·9 |
| Mechanical Engineering | … | … | 5·8 | 14·3 | 10·7 | 12·0 | 42·8 | 27·1 |
| Instrument Engineering | … | … | 0·7 | 0·4 | 1·4 | 0·5 | 3·0 | 2·0 |
| Electrical Engineering | … | … | 13·3 | 19·7 | 17·8 | 10·8 | 61·6 | 31·7 |
| Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering | … | … | 3·1 | 5·1 | 4·9 | 0·5 | 13·6 | 6·2 |
| Vehicles | … | … | 12·5 | 2·0 | 1·3 | 4·1 | 19·9 | 11·7 |
| Metal Goods not elsewhere specified | … | … | 1·7 | 1·3 | 3·4 | 3·2 | 9·6 | 6·0 |
| Textiles | … | … | 4·3 | 3·8 | 7·3 | 6·0 | 21·4 | 15·7 |
| Leather, Leather Goods and Fur | … | … | 0·2 | 0·1 | 2·2 | 1·0 | 3·5 | 2·9 |
| Clothing and Footwear | … | … | 0·8 | 0·4 | 2·2 | 0·4 | 3·8 | 2·3 |
| Brick, Pottery, Glass, Cement, etc. | … | … | 2·4 | 0·9 | 2·9 | 3·4 | 9·6 | 3·3 |
| Timber, Furniture, etc. | … | … | 1·7 | 1·0 | 1·6 | 0·8 | 5·1 | 3·5 |
| Paper, Printing and Publishing | … | … | 3·0 | 1·7 | 2·7 | 3·5 | 10·9 | 6·3 |
| Other Manufacturing industries | … | … | 1·2 | 11·5 | 2·0 | 4·0 | 18·7 | 12·5 |
| Construction | … | … | 1·1 | 0·2 | 0·1 | 0·3 | 1·7 | 1·5 |
| Service industries | … | … | 4·2 | 5·0 | 4·1 | 6·8 | 20·1 | 10·0 |
| Total | … | … | 67·1 | 89·3 | 77·9 | 72·9 | 307·2 | 177·4 |