§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has completed his consideration of exemption limits for industrial development certificates.
§ Mr. John DaviesI propose to raise the exemption limits from 5,000 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft., except in the Eastern, London and South-Eastern and East and West Midlands Regions where the limits will be raised from 3,000 sq. ft. to 5,000 sq. ft.
33WFreeing these small buildings from the industrial development certificate control will ease the administrative burden on industry and on Government without significantly affecting the movement of industry to the development and intermediate areas. The industrial development certificate system remains an essential element in the Government's regional policies, and will continue to be used to persuade firms to provide employment in areas where industrial development is needed and to restrain demand on resources in areas where they are scarce. I will be laying the necessary Order before the House shortly.