§ 43. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the names of the 288 potential applicants for loans and grants who responded to the letter sent last February to 50,000 managing 1448 directors about trade facilities, and indicate what steps he is taking to make available to them loans and grants to set up factories; and where those factories will be located.
§ Mr. ErrollThe 288 applications for loans or grants which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Board of Trade, referred to in his reply on 3rd March, are at present being prepared for submission to the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee. As all approaches to the Committee are confidential, I regret that I am unable to supply any details of the individual applications received.
§ Mr. HughesDoes not the Minister realise that this is a matter of grave public importance and that I want to know how many of these loans and grants related to North-East Scotland, where the percentage of unemployment is 5.4 per cent., which is higher than anywhere else in Britain?
§ Mr. ErrollThat is another question. I was asked about the names of potential applicants from all over the country. It is important to maintain confidentiality as regards each individual applicant.
§ 44. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications he has received during the last five years from potential applicants for loans and grants to set up factories in Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland; how many of these applications were acceded to; what were the amounts of the grants and loans, respectively, as a result; how many new factories have been built and how many existing factories have been extended; and how many of those applications were refused and are still pending.
§ Mr. ErrollAdvances from the Development Fund for factory projects were available in the Buckie-Peterhead district from 1953 onwards, but assistance through the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee for that district and for Aberdeen was not introduced until the passage of the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act last summer.
As regards the Development Fund, the answers to the various questions are: nine inquiries; five firm applications, all of them authorised; and loans approved to a total of £453,999 for the erection of three factories and two extensions.
1449 As regards the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee, six firm and eligible applications for a variety of purposes have been received; one has been approved and one rejected, and four are still receiving consideration. All the applications are made in confidence, and I am unable to give details of individual applications.
§ Mr. HughesIs it a fact that the Ministry in considering this matter gives preference to the congested districts of the Midlands and South-East England where the percentage of unemployment is only 1.7 per cent.? Will the hon. Gentleman give more attention to North-East Scotland where, as I said a moment ago, the percentage is 5.4 per cent.?
§ Mr. ErrollThe Midlands of England are not designated as D.A.T.A.C. areas and in South-East England only one or two isolated coastal areas qualify for D.A.T.A.C. assistance.