§ Mr. Armstrongasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state for the year ended 31st March, 1965, the number of loans and grants under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act, 1960 made to firms in development districts of the North-East, the number of applications rejected, the number still under consideration and the average payment by grant and loan for each job provided.
§ Mr. DarlingDuring the year ended 31st March, 1965, 19 loans and 4 grants were offered under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, in respect of projects in the North-East development districts. Some 13 applications were rejected, and at the end of the period 48 applications were under consideration. The average cost per job, based on the additional employment estimated to arise from projects in these districts assisted under Section 4 during this period is £967.
§ Mr. Armstrongasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will state for the year ended 31st March, 1965, the number of applications for 103W building grants from firms in North-East development districts, the number approved, the estimated cost and employment to be provided, the number of applications rejected and the number still under consideration;
(2) whether he will state for the year ended 31st March, 1965, the number of applications for plant and machinery grants from firms in the North-East development districts, the number approved, the estimated cost and employment provided, the number of applications rejected, and the number under consideration.
§ Mr. DarlingInformation relating to applications for building and plant and machinery grants under the Local Employment Acts, 1960 and 1963 in respect of projects in the North-East development districts for the year ended 31st March, 1965, is as follows:
Building grants Plant and machinery grants Applications received:— Number 496 730 Grants offered:— Number 194 365 Estimated cost £3,537,046 £1,264,161 *Estimated additional employment 16,158 19,648 Applications rejected or withdrawn:— Number 124 144 Applications under consideration at end of period:— Number 178 221 of which approved in principle 132 109 * There is duplication between the additional employment estimated for building grants and plant and machinery grants in respect of projects for which both grants are applied for and offered.