HC Deb 19 November 1969 vol 791 cc327-8W
Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Minister of Technology to what extent he enters into binding commitments with individual companies to pay investment grant on assets prior to the purchase of those assets; and at what stage such commitments become binding on him.

Mr. Varley

The Government have advised industry generally in a guidance booklet, and particular firms on request, of the types of capital expenditure which may qualify for investment grants. Applications for grant however, unlike those

Gross Fixed Capital Formation
Year ended Private sector less dwellings Public sector less dwellings Financial Year Investment Allowances Investment Grants
(total both sectors)
£million £million £million* £million†
30th June, 1960 1,840 1,371 1959–60 42
30th June, 1961 2,118 1,479 1960–61 114
30th June, 1962 2,281 1,505 1961–62 172
30th June, 1963 2,204 1,202 1962–63 222
30th June, 1964 2,362 1,473 1963–64 209
30th June, 1965 2,723 1,620 1964–65 275
30th June, 1966 2,863 2,322 1965–66 357
30th June, 1967 2,946 2,700 1966–67 255
30th June, 1968 2,910 3,009 1967–68 85 315
30th June, 1969 3,366 2,898 1968–69 14 475
(provisional)
* Figures relate to tax relieved by the allowances on expenditure incurred in accounts ended in the previous financial year; the public sector did not benefit from these allowances.
†Included in the figures of grants in this column are £2 million and £27 million (Provisional) paid to the public sector in 1967–68 and 1968–69, respectively.

under the Local Employment Acts, can only be made after capital expenditure has been incurred and I do not enter into contractual agreements with individual firms as it done under these Acts.