§ 42. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent private industry is now supported by 88W State aid; to what extent the aid consists of loans, to what extent of grants, and to what extent of Government shareholding or other investment providing an element of State ownership; and if he will discontinue the first category, decrease the second, and increase the third.
§ Mr. DiamondGovernment assistance in these categories to private industry other than agriculture, totalled £660.8 million in 1968–69. Of this figure net lending amounted to £35.3 million; grants and subsidies to £623.8 million—including some £432 million of investment grants; and cash purchases of company securities to £1.7 million. The scale and nature of our assistance to industry is kept under review.