§ 58. Mr. Marquandasked the Minister of Technology when he expects to announce his plans for attracting new industry into the Erewash Valley intermediate area.
§ Mr. RidleyIntermediate area incentives are available in the Notts/Derby intermediate area, and the Ministry of Technology will draw the attention of suitable firms to the advantages of locating there.
§ Mr. MarquandIf the hon. Gentleman is saying that these inducements will continue, that is a very important and welcome statement of policy.
§ Mr. RidleyThe inducements will continue until the policy is changed.
§ 59. Mr. Marquandasked the Minister of Technology whether under his proposals local authorities in the Erewash Valley intermediate area will continue to be eligible for Government grants towards the cost of clearing derelict sites.
§ Mr. RidleyYes, Sir. We have at present no plans for changing the areas in which dereliction grants are available under the Local Employment Act 1970.
§ Mr. MarquandIn view of that reply and the previous one, can the hon. Gentleman now give us a clear statement of when the announcement of his policy will be made? Is he aware that if we have to wait until the end of the recess this will mean a total of about four months between the General Election and the making of the statement of policy, which will put everybody in the country into a state of acute uncertainty? This really is not good enough.
§ Mr. RidleyThe dereliction grants are a totally separate matter, and it is those to which the Question relates. We believe 1147 that it is vital to continue to create conditions attractive to industry, and so we have no proposals to change the dereliction grant. On the other matter, I can add nothing to what has already been said.