HC Deb 11 April 1972 vol 834 cc176-7W
Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish an annual report on the operation of the cash grant system in development areas.

Mr. Anthony Grant

This will be my intention.

Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what data he proposes to publish regarding the operation of the new cash grant system in development areas.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Information supplementing that contained in the White Paper on Industrial and Regional Development (Cmnd. 4942) will be published as soon as practicable.

Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guarantees he proposes to give to potential investors regarding the permanence of cash grants in development areas.

Mr. Anthony Grant

The White Paper on Industrial and Regional Development (Cmnd. 4942) indicates that the Government intend to maintain the new system of incentives at least until the transitional period of entry to Europe is over—that is, to 1st January, 1978.

Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guarantees he proposes to give as to the maintenance of the level of cash grants available in development areas.

Mr. Anthony Grant

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to await the publication of legislation.

Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many civil servants will be employed operating the new cash grant system in development areas.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Probably about 450 staff will be needed to administer the new regional development grants but this must necessarily be an imprecise figure pending the legislation providing for the new scheme.