§ Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the last date on which companies in those assisted areas which will become non-assisted on 1 August may make application for regional selective assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972.
§ Mr. Norman LamontCompanies in the relevant areas have already been advised that in their own best interests they should submit detailed applications by 31 March 1982 at the latest in order to allow as much time as possible for them to be considered and, where appropriate, an offer of assistance to be made before 31 July. In view of the number of applications which have been received and which are still under consideration, we have decided that, in order to receive consideration, fully documented applications must be submitted not later than 30 April. Incomplete applications and those received after that date will be rejected. This cut-off date will not, however, apply to certain applications for exchange risk guarantee cover for small loans from the European Investment Bank and the European Coal and Steel Community which are processed under simplified procedures.
These arrangements are without prejudice to the further review of those areas due to be down graded by more than one step since 1979, the results of which I hope to announce shortly, and to our continued readiness to consider the circumstances of particular areas.