§ 2. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made in clearing moneys payable to industry by the ending of the four-month deferment in the payment of regional development grants.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Industry (Mr. Norman Lamont)I am pleased to be able to report that all the deferred RDG payments have now been posted to applicants. That represents nearly 10,000 payments and £150 million paid within three weeks. That is 10 days earlier than the Department's target date of one month from the announcement; that is, by 9 December.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeWill my hon. Friend accept warm congratulations from all those interested for the efficient repayment of moneys which are a welcome injection for hard-pressed British industry?
§ Mr. LamontI am grateful to my hon. Friend. I am sure that industry shares his appreciation.