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Mr. Callaghan : Is the Minister aware that nearly all the textile mills in my area have closed? Is he further aware that three more are now to close, including the Mars mill at Castleton, with the loss of 540 jobs? Will he tell the House what the Government will do to help the textile industry, and those workers who have been thrown on the industrial scrapheap?

Sir Geoffrey Howe : The Government will continue to support the textile industry in the negotiations that we undertake within the context of GATT and the multi-fibre arrangement. I remind the hon. Gentleman that the most recent survey produced at the beginning this week by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce shows that nearly two thirds of firms expect to increase their export orders, and nearly three out of five expect to increase their work forces in the year ahead. There is substantial evidence for the belief that export performance will continue to improve.

Mr. Speaker : Sir Hugh Rossi. [Hon. Members :-- "Where is he?"] Mr. Alan Williams.

Mr. Alan Williams : Thank you for an unexpected surprise, Mr. Speaker.

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Q11. Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

Sir Geoffrey Howe : I have been asked to reply.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

Mr. Williams : May I, in turn, refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to a question I put to the Chief Secretary a short time ago? He failed to answer it, so I hope that the right hon. and learned Gentleman will do so. Will he confirm what the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on Tuesday--that manufacturing investment in this country would have been £30,000 million higher under this

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Government had the growth rate under the Labour Government been maintained? Does he think that that is a major factor in explaining why a surplus of £6,000 million on manufacturing trade has deteriorated into a deficit of £16,000 million?

Sir Geoffrey Howe : The right hon. Gentleman must have failed to hear the point I made earlier, when I said that even in the current year manufacturing investment is expected to increase. Last year was itself a record for manufacturing investment, as was the year before. Total business investment has increased by some 40 per cent. during the past three years. That is a substantial record of achievement, and it will be maintained.

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