asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the visit of his noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State to Liverpool.

The visit was undertaken as part of the normal programme for Ministers to visit the region and my noble Friend Lord Lucas of Chilworth took the opportunity to visit Merseyside to see at first hand two successful companies operating in the area. The companies visited were:

1. CBS Automobile Batteries at Aintree. A leader in the production of automotive batteries employing 154 people and exporting 18 per cent. of their output.

2. Manesty Machines Ltd. Manufacturer of tablet making machines employing 460 people in the north-west region and exporting 75 per cent. of its products to over 100 countries.

Whilst in Merseyside Lord Lucas took the opportunity to visit the Merseyside Development Corporation and to review progress of the re-development of the Albert dock. He also made a brief visit to the new enterprise workshops — 127 small units in a converted dock side warehouse which are managed by BAT Industries Small Businesses Ltd. in partnership with the Merseyside Development Corporation.