§ 35. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the present average length of time between applications for grants by firms under the Local Employment Act being received and a decision being reached.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe interval between the first submission of an application and the final decision upon it averages between four and five months. The interval between receiving from the applicant all the information necessary to enable the Committee to investigate his case and the final decision on it averages less than two months. I do not consider that there is any avoidable delay.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are complaints from many different parts of the country about the length of time which elapses between a company making an application and a final decision being reached? In view of the absolute necessity to put some drive behind this programme in the development districts, will the right hon. Gentleman look at this again to make sure that there is no unnecessary delay?
§ Mr. MaudlingI have looked at it many times and I am satisfied that there is no unavoidable delay. I know that there are complaints. If there were no complaints I should be worried. We are providing a substantial amount of public money and it is important that we make sure that the people obtaining it are likely to provide lasting employment.