§ 45. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the north regional industrial development certificate approvals for each of the years 1967 to 1971, the estimated additional employment involved and the figures, approvals and estimates, following the abolition of IDC control in July 1972.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantSince the abolition of IDC control in the development and special development areas in July 1972 one IDC has been approved in the Northern Region's intermediate area. It is hoped that a system of collecting information about additional employment based on planning approvals will be introduced shortly.
Since January 1973 the total number of unemployed in the Northern Region has fallen by 11,230 and the total number of notified unfilled vacancies has risen by 5,060.
Following is the information:
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE APPROVALS IN THE NORTHERN REGION FOR SCHEMES OF 15,000 SQ. FT. AND OVER Year Number Estimated additional employment* 1967 … … 116 15,060 1968 … … 134 16,880 1969 … … 129 13,920 1970 … … 130 15,390 1971 … … 81 4,460 * Jobs estimated by the applicants to arise when the projects are complete and fully manned.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many advance factories are under construction in the Northern Region; how many of 216W those completed have not been taken up by a tenant; and how many have not been occupied for more than six months.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantThree are under construction and four completed but not yet allocated. These four have been unoccupied for more than six months. They will continue to be drawn to the attention of possible occupiers at every opportunity.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many applications for industrial development certificates are currently being examined for the Northern Region.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantNone. Industrial development certificates have not been required in development and special development areas since 19th July 1972.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on investment trends in industry in the Northern Region; what effect the relaxation of control on industrial development certificates has had on investment; and how the rate of inquiries for industrial development currently compares with a similar period in 1970–71 and 1972.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantIDC control was abolished in the development and special development areas and the exemption limits raised elsewhere in July 1972. The new regional development incentives came into effect in August 1972. Measures such as these take some time to make an impact on the investment decisions of firms, and at this stage reliable trends cannot be identified. The indications are however encouraging; for example, visits by industrialists to the Northern Region are running at a higher rate and are as follows:
1970 … 122 1971 … 110 1972 … 194 January and February 1973 … 41 Additionally, since January 1973 the total number of unemployed in the Northern Region has fallen by 11,230 and the total number of unfilled vacancies has risen by 5,060.