HC Deb 12 February 1971 vol 811 c297W
Mr. Redmond

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to set a time limit for the acceptance of applications for investment grant.

Sir J. Eden

Yes. I intend that no grant shall be made on expenditure incurred before 1st January, 1969, unless an application, containing such information and in such form as I require, is made before 1st January, 1972. Thereafter for a period I intend to maintain the three-year interval quarter by quarter so that, for example, applications in respect of expenditure incurred between 1st January, 1969, and 1st April, 1969, would have to be made before 1st April, 1972. In the light of experience, I shall consider whether it would be right to shorten the interval between the incurring of expenditure and the latest date for making application. I shall, however, give due notice to industry of any such change. I am considering whether these arrangements should be embodied in legislation.