§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Industry what proposals he has for publishing payments of regional development grants and regional selective assistance to companies in the assisted areas.
§ Mr. BennThe Expenditure Committee has recommended that more of this information should be published. I intend to publish quarterly inTrade and Industry payments to establishments of regional development grant exceeding £25,000; 372W and also payments to companies or individuals to whom selective assistance amounting to £10,000 of loan or, in the case of interest relief grant, loan equivalent is offered from today. The total amount of selective assistance committed will be published in the quarter after that in which the first tranche is paid. In suitable cases payments will be aggregated to show totals paid to industrial groups. I shall also publish quarterly the total amount paid in regional development grant and regional selective assistance. The thresholds for the publication of payments under both schemes will be reviewed from time to time. The first lists will be published early in 1975.