asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the current position with regard to the annual industrial reviews undertaken in connection with the Second Programme for Economic Expansion; and if he will explain the reference in the first footnote to Table 21 in the Review of 1968 and Outlook for 1969 to the change in the timing of the industrial review meetings.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Reviews.
87.
In view of the setting up of the Committee on Industrial Progress and in order to secure the best utilisation of available resources, it was decided not to carry out the annual industrial reviews for the year 1968 on the same scale as in previous years. Such reviews were, however, undertaken in relation to the industries which were initially chosen for survey by the committee. Statistical material was also prepared for all industries and this is set out in the publication Review of 1968 and Outlook for 1969. Apart from the formal annual reviews, of course, my Department keeps in regular contact with industry and its problems.
The footnote referred to by the Deputy relates to the industries initially chosen for survey by the Committee on Industrial Progress. It was not possible in the circumstances to have meetings with the representatives of these industries in advance of the publication of the Review of 1968 and Outlook for 1969.
How many of these reviews were carried out in previous years and how many were carried out in 1968?
About one-fifth.
I do not think I have that information available here at the moment.
Question No. 88.
Would the Minister not agree that the vast majority of them were abandoned?
I would agree that the footnote was not as clear as it might have been.
I accept the Minister's understatement.