North East Shipbuilders Ltd Mr. Clay To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will indicate to Sir Leon Brittan that Her Majesty's Government have no objection to his discussing the details of the notification by Her Majesty's Government concerning the closure of North East Shipbuilders Ltd with the Member of the European Parliament for Tyne and Wear;(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the formal notification made by Her Majesty's Government to the European Commission regarding the closure of North East Shipbuilders Ltd. Mr. Douglas Hogg No. Mr. Clay To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on which days Her Majesty's Government formally notified the European Commission of their proposals regarding the closure of North East Shipbuilders Ltd. and related matters; and on which day the European Commission formally notified their acceptance of these proposals. Mr. Douglas Hogg The Government formally notified to the Commission of the European Community on 9 December 1988 a number of aspects relating to British Shipbuilders, including the proposed terms of sale of a number of subsidiary companies and the payment of closure aid at North East Shipbuilders Ltd. The Commission decided on 21 December not to raise objections to the matters covered by this notification.