§ Mr. Hicksasked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the sources of finance, both United Kingdom and EEC, that are available to hotels and guest houses for expansion programmes, and improvement schemes, including work carried out to meet the requirements of the Fire Precautions Act 1971; what conditions have to be met and whether his Department have made representations to the EEC Commission for the minimum figure of approximately £21,000 for advances from the Regional Development Fund to be reduced.
§ Mr. ShoreOther than from normal commercial sources, assistance is available under various schemes run by the three national Tourist Boards, the Northern Ireland Department of Commerce, the Highlands and Islands Development Board, and the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas. In each case the prime condition is that they must improve tourism prospects, or in the case of the Highlands and Islands contribute to the economic or social development of the area; and the project must be situated either in a development area or a special development area.
Loans for small premises are available under the Fire Precautions (Loans) Act. 1973.
Loans are available from the European Investment Bank, but normally the project will be expected to contribute significantly to regional development within the Community or to the development of the 675W Community itself. Receipts from the European Regional Development Fund for industry and service industry projects are not paid to promoters.
The figure of £21,000, which only sets the figure of minimum investment, has been accepted by all member States, including the United Kingdom.
I will write further to the hon. Member about the more detailed conditions and considerations taken into account under each scheme.