§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in the Official Report details of the sums of money which have been paid under regional assistance Acts to oil-related companies for each of the years since 1970 to the latest date for which information is available.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe following payments have been made to oil companies under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 and to oil-related companies under Section 8 through the offshore supplies interest relief grant scheme
Calendar Year £ 000 1972–74 … … … Nil 1975 … … … 315 1976 … … … 2,720 I regret that information about other assistance to oil-related companies under that Act and payments made under the Local Employment Acts is not readily available.