§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for the Environment of 8 July, if he has anything to add to his answer of 28 June,Official Report, column 577 about assistance to Bass at Preston Brook.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 11 July 1991]: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me the opportunity to amend the statement made in my answer of 28 June, that Preston Brook is not in an assisted area. It is, and companies there can qualify for DTI regional assistance. I apologise for this mistake, which arose from an administrative error in my Department. Action is being taken to prevent recurrence. I can now add that Bass received £494,102 of regional development grant under the original scheme, paid in 1987–88; this grant was not linked to job creation.