HC Deb 17 November 1971 vol 826 cc149-51W
Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men and women were employed in Government-owned factories on Merseyside at the latest available date; and how that

with 1968, 1969 and 1970, giving the figures for each region.

Mr. Anthony Grant

I regret that information in the form requested is not readily available. Since 1st April, 1968, however, offers of grant in the development and intermediate areas have been as follows:

figure compares with other development areas.

Mr. Anthony Grant

In October, 1971, 1,936 men and 3,498 women were employed in factories provided under the Local Employment Acts in the Merseyside development area. Comparable figures for the other development areas are:

Males Females
Northern 38,983 38,933
South West 404 567
Scotland 56,703 33,555
Wales 31,795 28,677

Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to improve employment opportunities on Merseyside, in view of the reduction to 20 per cent. in the differential incentive for investment.

Mr. Anthony Grant

The "reduction" to which the right hon. Member refers relates to investment in plant and machinery and has arisen through an increase in the tax depreciation allowances available in both development and non-development areas. I am sure, however, that the right hon. Member would not wish to overlook the following additional measures taken by the Government:

  1. (i) The three-year carryback for development area tax depreciation introduced in this year's Finance Act.
  2. (ii) The extension of free depreciation to investment in plant and machinery by service industries, also in this year's Finance Act.
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  3. (iii) The improved level of building grants available in development areas following the Investment and Building Grants Act 1971.
  4. (iv) Merseyside's share in the infrastructure programme announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 14th July, 1971.
  5. (v) The orders for two type 42 destroyers placed in the summer.
  6. (vi) Merseyside's share in the housing improvement grants announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 22nd June, 1971.
  7. (vii) The benefits Merseyside will reap from the remission of taxation, amounting to £1,400 million in a full year, which have been made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the benefits which will stem to industry in Merseyside from the relaxation of credit and hire-purchase controls.