HC Deb 19 October 1976 vol 917 cc433-4W
Mr. Richard Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total value, at August 1976 prices, of the assistance granted to each region

REGIONAL PREFERENTIAL EXPENDITURE TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT AND EMPLOYMENT ESTIMATED DIVISION BETWEEN ASSISTED AREAS
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75
£m. £m. £m. £m. £m.
Northern Development Area
Total Expenditure 90 78 66 92 122
North West Region
Total Expenditure 59 49 40 53 89
South West Assisted Areas
Total Expenditure 7 6 5 7 11
Yorkshire and Humberside Intermediate Area
Total Expenditure 0.5 3 2 10 16
Scotland
Total Expenditure 98.1 87.2 85.2 108.6 146.3
Wales
Total Expenditure 50.7 44.7 53.6 65.7 81.5

Notes:

All figures are gross and include payments to nationalised industries.

The major items included are regional development grant, selective financial assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972, Local Employment Act assistance, regional employment premium and the investment grant differential—estimated—in favour of the assisted areas.

Mr. Richard Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report all the regional grants, incentives, premiums and similar schemes operated by his Department in the last five years, indicating the dates of introduction and where necessary the dates of termination of these schemes.

Mr. Alan Williams

The following assistance was available between 1960 and 1972:

  1. (a) building grants;
  2. (b) loans and grants, the latter normally for unusual initial expenses in or removal costs to the Development Areas; and
  3. (c) the provision of sites and factories.

In addition investment grants at preferential rates were available in the assisted areas up to 1970.

Since 1972 the main measures have been:

  1. (a) regional development grants; from March 1977 mining and construction industries will no longer qualify for this grant;
  2. (b) selective financial assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972;
  3. (c) grants to encourage the movement of service industries to the assisted areas, introduced in 1973, of which an announcement

of the United Kingdom, under his Department's special regional schemes, in each of the last five years.

Mr. Alan Williams

The information is not available in the form requested. The following table shows estimated expenditure at current prices in the principal assisted areas of Great Britain for the years 1970–71 to 1974–75.

of an increase in the rates was made on 11th October 1976; and (d) the provision of sites and factories.