§ 9. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Industry how much financial assistance to industry has been 1008 given to the Yorkshire and Humberside region over each of the past three years; and what are the amounts granted for the South Yorkshire area.
§ Mr. CryerWith permission, I will publish the detailed information in the Official Report, but the total financial assistance made available to industry in the Yorkshire and Humberside region over the past three years amounts to £129,840,000. It is expected that offers of assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 included in this total will give rise to 19,000 jobs and safeguard 3,700 jobs in the region.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes my hon. Friend realise that that figure means that the Yorkshire and Humberside region has been dealt with unfairly and unjustly compared with the treatment of other regions? Is he aware that there are large pockets of low wages and unemployment in the region? Is he aware that in the Dearne Valley the Manvers Main coking plant has already declared redundancies? We are informed that there is a great danger of its being closed down. It seems that the Government will not carry out the promise that they made a few years ago to build a chemical plant to replace it.
§ Mr. CryerThe Government fully realise the difficulties occurring in many parts of the country. Yorkshire and Humberside has received more than its fair share of section 8 assistance. Those in the region have been extremely forthright, as one would expect from Yorkshire people, in taking advantage of the many generous schemes that the Government have introduced. The Government offer generous schemes of assistance to the regions and nationally through section 8 schemes. They offer to private industry the most generous tax incentives throughout the whole of western Europe in the form of 100 per cent. grants on investment in plant and machinery. There are difficulties, but some of them must be ascribed to the failure of private industry to take advantage of the schemes that have been offered.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWill the hon. Gentleman examine the wool textile industry's claim on effluent charges? Is he aware that a report has been made by the Yorkshire Water Authority and the wool textile industry and submitted to his 1009 right hon. Friend? Will he agree to consider the matter to ascertain whether the issue may be resolved?
§ Mr. CryerI know that the hon. Gentleman will want to recognise the fact that the Department of Industry met representatives from the industry some months ago and that, as a result, we jointly agreed to set up the working party that he described. We have received a report and are examining the matter with considerable urgency, because we are concerned that the wool textile industry should maintain its competitive position in world trade.
§ Mr. HardyWhy should not central assistance also include the conferring of adequate capacity to secure the vigorous development of attractive industrial
| ASSISTANCE MADE AVAILABLE TO INDUSTRY IN THE YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE REGION UNDER THE INDUSTRY ACT 1972 | ||||||
| 1975–76 | 1976–77 | 1977–78 | ||||
| £000 | £000 | £000 | ||||
| Part I—Payment of Regional Development Grant: Yorkshire and Humberside Region | … | … | … | 18,000 | 23,500 | 22,100 |
| Part II Section 7—Offers of Regional Selective Assistance: Yorkshire and Humberside Region | … | … | … | 5,500 | 8,400 | 3,900 |
| South Yorkshire Metropolitan County | … | … | … | 900 | 4,100 | 600 |
| Part II Section 8—Offers of Selective Financial Assistance: Yorkshire and Humberside Region | … | … | … | 16,500 | 21,500 | 10,300 |
| South Yorkshire Metropolitan County | … | … | … | 600 | 3,800 | 2,900 |
| Part III—Assistance to shipbuilding: Yorkshire and Humberside Region | … | … | … | 75 | 36 | 29 |
| South Yorkshire Metropolitan County | … | … | … | — | — | — |
| Note: Information on payments of regional development grant to firms in South Yorkshire is not readily available. |