§ Mr. Gwynoro Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much assistance has been provided to date to firms in Wales under the Industry Act; and how many firms were involved;
(2) how much financial assistance has been given to firms and projects in the service sector in Wales under the Industry Act.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantUp to 31st March 1973 payments of regional development grants in Wales amounted to £904,972. By the end of April offers of regional selective assistance amounting to £2.4 million had been made to 24 firms in Wales. A further 76 applications amounting to £21 million are under consideration. Though regional selective assistance may be provided for mobile service industry projects no application has so far been made.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms on Merseyside have received assistance under the Industry Act 1972 and to what value; and what estimate he has made of the number of new jobs created.
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§ Mr. Anthony GrantApart from the assistance already announced for Cammell Laird Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. and Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, three companies have been offered regional selective assistance comprising loans of £886,000, and interest relief grants of £6,000. The new jobs involved are 132. Twenty-two applications involving 809 new jobs are under consideration. Further job opportunities arise from payments of regional development grants, though these are not linked to employment.