HC Deb 08 February 1982 vol 17 cc254-5W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total area of industrial floor space allocated for industrial or service trade occupancy by the English Industrial Estates Corporation in each of the travel-to-work areas in (a)) Cumbria, (b)) the Northern region and (c) the North-West region for the last month for which statistics are available.

Mr. MacGregor

During the month of December 1981, the English Industrial Estates Corporation allocated the following floor space, subject to contract:

(a)Cumbria:
Workington: 3,770 M2 (3 units)
Carlisle: 220 M2 (1 unit)
Kendal: 455 M2 (2units)
4,445 M2 (6units)
(b) North-East Region:
Haltwhistle: 451 M2 (1 unit)
Morpeth: 1,078 M2 ( 2 units)
Hexham: 232 M2 (1 unit)
South Tyne: 1,098 M2 (4 units)
Wearside: 1,213 M2 (3 units)
4,072 M2 (11 units)
(c) North-West Region, Excluding Cumbria:
Widnes: 93 M2 (1 unit)
Bury: 231 M2 (1 unit)
Ashton-under-Lyne: 93 M2 (1 unit)
Liverpool: 5,045 M2 (8 units)
Birkenhead: 1,958 M2 (7 units)
7,420 M2 (18 units)

Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what was the total number and value of offers of regional assistance made to companies in west Cumbria travel-to-work areas, in Cumbria as a whole and in the North-West region for the last month for which statistics are available;

(2) how many applications for information on industrial or service developments his Department has received in the North-West region during the last month; and how many of these his Department has referred to the Cumbria county council's industrial development unit.

Mr. MacGregor

In December 1981 three offers of assistance totalling £460,000 were made under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 towards projects in the North-West region (including Cumbria); one offer of £310,000 was made towards a project in Cumbria; no offers were made to companies in West Cumbria. 417 enquiries of an industrial or commercial development nature were received in the North-West region, of which 222 related to selective financial assistance. None were specifically referred to the Cumbria county council's industrial development unit.