HC Deb 11 July 1973 vol 859 cc382-3W
Mr. Ted Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what provision is being made for the establishment of advance offices in the development areas.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Attractive office accommodation is readily available in the assisted areas.

Mr. Ted Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will initiate a campaign to attract clerical and administrative employment to the development areas and, in particular, publicise the fact that office rents in the development areas average £1.25 per sq. ft., whilst rents in central London are now approaching £10 per sq. ft.

Mr. Anthony Grant

The new incentives announced on 13th June to encourage service projects with a genuine choice of location, company offices and research and development units to move to the assisted areas is being vigorously promoted by my Department and the Location of Offices Bureau. This is the first time that such incentives have been made available in Great Britain. The rent-free period available under these new incentives of up to five years in development areas offers a large potential saving for companies paying high rents outside the assisted areas, and we are drawing to the attention of prospective applicants this and all the other advantages of moving to the assisted areas.