asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will reject any application for Industry Act assistance made by the Kirkby Co-operative based on collaboration with Mr. Robert Maxwell in the light of Mr. Maxwell's record of involvement with Pergamon Press and the Scottish Daily News.

My right hon. Friend never rejects any application before he has received it.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement about the Government's rejection of the Kirkby Co-operative's last application for Government assistance of £6 million.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans) on 19 February.—[Vol. 963; c. 11–14.]