§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing at 1986 prices how much has been spent on regional aid to industry in each financial year since 1978–79, to each of the English regions, Wales and Scotland, indicating through which agencies this finance was spent.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe information requested is as follows:
that the Government had accepted Rover Group's recommendation that Leyland Trucks, DAF Trucks and Freight Rover should combine to form a new Anglo-Dutch joint venture; that the Government had notified the EC Commission of our intention to fund the write-off of the accumulated debts from Leyland Bus and Leyland Trucks left in Rover Group and the restructuring costs resulting from their sale; and that normal procedures were in train. On 6 March I advised the House that the total costs were calculated at £680 million. I am now pleased to confirm to the House that these procedures have reached a satisfactory conclusion. It is intended that the Government will subscribe for £680 million of new shares in Rover Group shortly.