asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the need for British industry and public utilities to buy British and, in particular, where firms and nationalised undertakings receive substantial loans and grants from the Government

Public utilities and private sector companies receiving Government loans or grants are encouraged to support British manufacturing industry. However, it is not possible under the terms of membership of the EEC and other international obligations such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to impose conditions on Government assistance requiring firms to purchase British products.