§ Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government assistance is being given to the firm of MCL (Plastics) Limited towards the continuance of its operations at Strabane.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe company recently approached the Northern Ireland Department of Commerce stating that for financial reasons it was unable to continue its business and that closure, which would make more than 60 people redundant, was imminent. As the factory is in Strabane, which has the highest level of unemployment in Northern Ireland, it was considered important that the company should be enabled to continue in operation while efforts were made to find a way of maintaining the employment. Accordingly, it was agreed to provide grants, on an extra-statutory basis, of up to £60,000 on condition that no more than £30,000 be issued unless satisfactory proposals for revising the capital structure of the company are implemented to the satisfaction of the Department of Commerce.