§ Mr. Alec Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the average time taken by the regional grants office in Cardiff to approve grant applications; and what is the average time taken from the receipt of applications to the payment of grants.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe time taken to decide on applications for regional development grants depends largely upon their complexity and the speed of the applicant's response to requests for additional information or clarification. At Cardiff the average time taken to approve grant applications is between seven and eight weeks. Payment of approved grant is then deferred for four months as announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statements of 12 June 1979[Official Report, Vol. 968, c. 247].
§ Mr. Alec Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total amount of regional development grants approved for payment to firms in Wales but currently subject to the four months moratorium on payments.
§ Mr. MacGregorStatistics are only available for the Cardiff regional development grants office as a whole. This covers Wales and the South-West region of England. Payments amounting to £35.7 million were subject to the four months moratorium on 26 February 1982.