HC Deb 01 March 1982 vol 19 cc27-8W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many applications for information of an industrial or service development nature 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;

(2) how many steering location inquiries have been received in the North-West region of his Department; and, of these, how many have been referred to the Cumbria county council industrial development unit during the last month for which statistics are available.

Mr. MacGregor

In January 1982, 636 inquiries of an industrial or commercial development nature were received by the North-West regional office, of which 532 related to selective financial assistance and 17 to creation of new enterprises. None of these enquiries was specifically referred to the Cumbria county council's industrial development unit but it is normal practice to ensure that whenever appropriate inquirers are aware of the services provided by the Cumbria county council's industrial development unit.

The small firms service in the North-West region received some 2,520 inquiries in January 1981, many of which would have been concerned with information of an industrial or service development nature: Information on whether any of the inquirers were referred to the Cumbria county council industrial development unit is not recorded.

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 January, 1982, the English Industrial Estates Corporation allocated the following floor space, subject to contract:

Sq. metres
Cumbria
Workington 135 (2 units)
North-East region
Berwick 1,452 (1 unit)
North Tyne 258 (1 unit)
South Tyne 530 (2 units)
Wearside 149 (1 unit)
Teeside 4,430 (5 units)
Hartlepool 6,140 (6 units)
North-west Durham 200 (2 units)
South-east Durham 297 (2 units)
Central Durham 255 (1 unit)
Total North-East region 13,711 (21 units)
North-West region, excluding Cumbria
Widnes 92 (2 units)
Ashton-under-Lyne 912 (1 unit)
Nelson 460 (2 units)
Liverpool 682 (3 units)
Birkenhead 1,318 (5 units)
Total North-West region, excluding Cumbria 3,464 (13 units)