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Textile Industry

Volume 76: debated on Wednesday 3 April 1985

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asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his response to the report entitled "The Winding Down of Textiles", published by the board for social responsibility in the diocese of Manchester, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he has of investment by Governments of other member countries of the EEC in their domestic textile industries under schemes which have not received the approval of the European Commission in each of the years since 1975.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 April 1985, c. 470]: Comprehensive information about the investment support given to particular companies in other member states is not available. Sectoral aid schemes for the textile and clothing industry have generally been brought into operation only after Commission approval. The only

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Hotels—rooms622‡7, 18·61410‡9, 386515
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exception we know of is a scheme for reduced social charges in France which operated for a time without such approval.

The Commission has now, however, stated that sectoral aid schemes in the textile sector are in principle no longer acceptable and the Government intend to give the Commission their full support in ensuring that this policy is implemented.