§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the names of the companies, number of people employed and the net assets of the top 20 United Kingdom-based foreign-owned manufacturing companies at the most recent recorded date.
§ Mr. MeacherThe latest readily available information on the top 20 foreign-owned manufacturing companies in the "Times 1000 1974–75" is given below, in the order in which they appear in that publication:
factories have been allocated to Kirkby, Knowsley and Merseyside, respectively, in the past year; and what plans there are 295W for advance factories in each of these places.
§ Mr. HefferWithin the last year 12 advance factories have been allocated to the Merseyside Special Development Area. Six of these were specifically allocated to Knowsley, on the Department's industrial estate, which is within the Kirkby Local employment office area, two to Bromborough and one to St. Helens. Sites for the remaining three have yet to be acquired. There are no present plans for further advance factories within the special development area but the needs of Merseyside are kept under close review. As I announced on 14th February, the Department has acquired a 21 acre site at Gillmoss for future development.