§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what assistance and grants have been paid to the Ford Motor Company in 1977 and 1978 with regard to each Ford site in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the nature and extent of financial aid of all forms given to Ford (UK) over the last five years; and how much of it has been of a discretionary nature as could now be denied under the terms of the Government's sanctions.
§ Mr. Les Huckfield:Payments of assistance and the sites to which they relate are generally a matter between the 63W Department and the company concerned. Details of payments of regional development grant of amounts over £25,000 are published inTrade and Industryas are offers of assistance over £10,000 under section 7 and 8 of the Industry Act, 1972. The majority of assistance given to Ford in recent years has been non-discretionary.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the estimated total of all grants and assistance payable to the Ford Motor Company under agreements already reached between the company and the Government with regard to each Ford site in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Les Huckfield:Under existing agreements it is estimated that providing investment proceeds as planned Ford will receive over several years a total of £76 million. The majority of this will be related to investment at Bridgend and Halewood. In addition, the company will remain eligible for regional development grants on qualifying expenditure in assisted areas. So far as Bridgend and associated engine and car related developments elsewhere are concerned it is estimated that regional development grants will amount to some £70 million.