§ 7. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will list the inducements offered to firms who wish to establish themselves in the development districts of north-east Scotland; and what assistance to these firms is offered by his own Department.
§ Mr. HeathThe inducements offered by my Department to development districts in north-east Scotland, in common with all development districts, consist of Government built factories, standard grants towards costs of building and plant and machinery, as well as loans and grants specifically related to the needs of the individual project. In addition, favourable tax allowances in respect of capital equipment are available under the Finance Act, 1963, and the Ministry of Labour can assist with the expenses of key workers transferred from elsewhere.
§ Mr. Wolrige-GordonWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, for which we in the north-east of Scotland are truly grateful, may I ask him if he is aware that advance factories, which were part of the list he read out, in Fraserburgh and Peterhead have aroused considerable local feeling because of the way they have been handled from the start? Is he aware that even now one of them has not yet been built and that there is still doubt about the outcome of the one at Fraserburgh? Cannot this procedure be hurried up and clarified, not only for the sake of the people concerned in the area but also for the good which they have been designed to achieve?
§ Mr. HeathI am prepared to look at the progress that is being made on 663 these two advance factories. If my hon. Friend has any information which might be of assistance I hope that he will let me have it.