asked the Secretary of State for Industry how the nature of Government assistance and intervention in companies' research and development, manufacturing and production policies in the United Kingdom compares with those in other European Economic Community countries.

It is not possible to effect a meaningful comparison between the activities of member States in the manner proposed in the question. However, the following table, which has been extracted from "Industrial Aids in the European Community", a report on a study carried out by the centre for the study of public policy, University of Strathclyde, and largely funded by the Department of Industry, gives an indication of the types of assistance afforded by the member States of the Community.