§ Mr. Dempseyasked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for Treasury assistance have been received to date from firms anxious to provide employment in Coatbridge and Airdrie; how many were successful; and what was the longest period involved in determining any one of them.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe Board of Trade has received eight applications for financial assistance under the Local Employment Act, 1960, for projects in Coat-bridge and Airdrie. One applicant subsequently moved for technical reasons to another site in Scotland. Of the others, two have received assistance, three have been rejected and two are under consideration. The longest period between the receipt of a full application and the decision upon it has been 5½ months, but for part of that period the committee were awaiting necessary information from the applicant. In the other cases, the time taken by the Committee on investigation and consideration has been less than half that period.