§ 8. Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the rate of return on capital employed in manufacturing industry.
Mr. Alan WilliamsNo. In our view industry should become more profitable, and the Government's economic and industrial policies are designed to encourage this.
§ 32. Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the level of investment in the private sector of the manufacturing industry in North Humberside; how this compares with the level of five years ago; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CryerIndustrialists investing in North Humberside have been able to qualify since last April for development area incentives. In addition, North Humberside benefits from the national measures which the Government have taken to increase investment in manufacturing industry. Separate figures for
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§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set out in tabular form the totals of investment insurance cover provided by Export Credits Guarantee Department for each year from 1970 to the latest available full year; how much in each case went to insure investments in developing countries with per capita incomes below and above the international poverty line respectively; and how much went to insure investment in agriculture and rural development.
§ Mr. MeacherI am not sure precisely what the hon. Member has in mind by "international poverty line". Taking as reference point a per capita GNP of $280 in 1976, the figures are as follows:
industrial investment in North Humberside are not available but the recent trend in investment in manufacturing industry in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region appears to be upwards.
§ 23. Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the level of investment in the private sector of the manufacturing industry in the West Midlands; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CryerThe recent trend in investment in manufacturing industry in the West Midlands appears to be upwards. The Government has introduced a number of national measures designed to increase investment in manufacturing industry from which the West Midlands is benefiting.