§ Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many firms have been granted loans for industrial fuel efficiency equipment during the first 12 months of operation of the scheme ended 6th March, 1953, and in accordance with the announcement made on 7th March, 1952; what is the aggregate of such loans out of the £1 million authorised; how many applications for loans were received by his Department; how many were granted; how many rejected; and, in consideration of the expiry of the 12 months' trial period for the loans and 143W the recommendation number 21 of the Ridley Report on National Policy for the use of Fuel and Power Resources, what proposals for continuance or amplification, or otherwise, of the loans scheme he will now put forward.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydThe Government loan scheme for fuel saving equipment started on 29th May, 1952, following my preliminary statement to the House on 7th March, 1952. The experimental scheme has still two months to run.
The following particulars relate to the applications so far received:
— Number Amount £ Applications received 34 249,707 Applications withdrawn 8 35,447 Applications rejected 11 89,973 Loans granted 3 25,960 Recommendation No. 21 of the Report on National Policy for the Use of Fuel and Power Resources is still under consideration.