§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money has been paid during the last financial year and over the previous four years, to industry in Wales in the form of regional development grants as authorised under Part 1 of the Industry Act 1972; and if he will itemise this expenditure by location and nature of industry and purpose of grant.
§ Mr. CryerThe amount of regional development grant paid to industry in Wales in the four financial years 1972–73 to 1975–76 has been published in the annual reports presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 16 of the Industry Act 1972. The report for the financial year 1976–77 will be published in September. These reports show, separately, the grant paid in respect of buildings and works and the grant paid in respect of plant and machinery, and are sub-divided to 691W show the respective payments in the special development areas, the development areas and the intermediate areas. Separate records are not maintained, by country or region, of the location and nature of the industries concerned, but an analysis by Standard Industrial Classification Order is published each year for the assisted areas as a whole. Details of individual grant payments of £25,000 or over are published quarterly in Trade and Industry showing the name and location of the grantee.
Projects Assistance (£m.) Industry Number Outlay (£m.) Grants Loans Total Mechanical engineering … 31 94.1 10.6 4.9 15.5 Chemicals and allied industries … 23 196.9 24.7 0.4 25.1 Food and drink … 13 26.6 2.3 0 2.3 Electrical engineering … 12 28.8 3.3 0 3.3 Vehicle components … 8 66.3 7.4 0 7.4 Metal goods … 8 14.2 1.5 0.4 1.9 Metal manufacturing … 7 32.3 4.4 0 4.4 Pottery, bricks and glass … 6 21.6 2.5 0 2.5 Petroleum … 2 143.9 20.2 0 20.2 Textiles … 2 7.1 0.8 0 0.8 Others* … 6 7.8 0.7 0 0.7 Total … 118 639.7 78.4 5.7 84.1 * Includes the furniture, leather, mining and construction industries.