§ Mr. Andersonasked the President of the Board of Trade, how much additional employment, direct and indirect, he estimates will be brought to the development areas concerned by the location decisions on the aluminium smelters.
§ Mr. DellThe aluminium smelter and associated power station near Blyth, for which planning permission has now been sought, is expected to employ approximately 550 men in the early 1970's, with possible expansion to about 900 at a later date. Employment in the smelters projected at Holyhead and Invergordon would be rather more than 700 and 600 respectively. It is not possible to say what indirect employment would be created.
§ Mr. Andersonasked the President of the Board of Trade, how much Government financial assistance, both in terms 89W of the normal regional incentives and otherwise, will be given to the new aluminium smelter projects.
§ Mr. DellAs my hon. Friend will know, a statement will be made at the appropriate time. I must ask him to await this.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the President of the Board of Trade, what reply he has given to the Norwegian Government as a result of Her Majesty's Government's discussion of the alleged breach of the European Free Trade Association Treaty by subsidising aluminium smelting in this country.
§ Mr. CroslandI have explained to the Norwegian Government that no breach of E.F.T.A. obligations is involved but I am not yet ready to reply to them finally on other points which they have raised.