Examination of Witnesses (Questions 240
- 241)
TUESDAY 20 APRIL 2004 (Morning)
SOCIETY OF
BRITISH AEROSPACE
COMPANIES
Q240 Judy Mallaber: Are there no
advantages in this case of ECGD being involved in negotiating
that international agreement? Surely it can be helpful that, in
a situation like that, we are in advance because it can mean that
our ECGD is in a position to try to level the playing field over
issues like those standards.
Ms Walton: We have always been
very supportive of a multilateral and multinational approach to
these issues. What we find a little more difficult to deal with
is when ECGD is leading by example and leaving UK industry at
a disadvantage for a period of time. We are absolutely supportive
of multilateral and multinational change but unilateral disarmament,
if you like, is not something that is going to win a lot of support
from industry nor indeed from our customers.
Q241 Judy Mallaber: Does not someone
have to take the lead?
Ms Walton: We would like to see
everybody hold hands and move together!
Chairman: Thank you very much for your
evidence today. I think you are going to send us some additional
information and we would be grateful for that. The Committee will
resume again at 3.15 this afternoon.
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