§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the latest steps he is taking to overcome the newsprint shortage, which is affecting industry in general and causing hardship in a number of companies.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantI am continuing to watch the situation closely. I understand that the arrangements made by the newspaper industry are working satisfactorily. As I indicated in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt) on 15th June, any newspaper which is experiencing real difficulties should con-128W the Industrial Development Act 1966 and, if they are located in the assisted areas, for assistance under the Local Employment Acts and Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 and for regional development grants. Details of assistance under these schemes to individual firms are not readily available and would also raise issues of commercial confidence.
Details of other assistance made available over the three financial years to 31st March 1973 to the contractors listed in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence today are as follows:
tact the United Kingdom Newsprint Users Committee.