§ 49. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in shortening the time taken by his Department to make decisions on claims for grants for industrial building and for plant and machinery in development areas.
§ Mr. DarlingThe changes in procedures which I have introduced are beginning to show encouraging results in speeding up consideration of these claims. But we are still often hampered by the time taken by applicants to provide the necessary information.
§ 50. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the number and value of claims made and 257W authorised for development area grants at current rates for expenditure on factory buildings and for plant and machinery in the Northern Region since 31st December, 1966.
§ Mr. Darling218 building grant applications totalling £3,098,000 were received in the five months to 31st May, 1967 in respect of projects in the Northern development area and 122 offers estimated to cost £1,805,000 were made. Plant and machinery grants were superseded by investment grants from 31st March, 1966 but 40 offers estimated to cost £218,000 were made in respect of applications made before that date.