HC Deb 20 November 1973 vol 864 cc403-4W
Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been issued in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region within the past 12 months; and how many have been refused.

Mr. Anthony Grant

297 industrial development certificates have been approved and none refused in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region during the 12 months ended 30th September 1973.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effort has been made in his Department to encourage new industries to the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Priority is being given under the Industry Act to promoting new industries in the region, either by encouraging expansion by local firms in new growth sectors or by attracting new operations, particularly into the southern part of the region, from the non-assisted areas.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to encourage industries to set up new factories in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.

Mr. Anthony Grant

The benefits of both loan and grant assistance under the Industry Act are available to firms setting up new factories in the area. In addition, we have built a number of advance factories in the area which have been allocated to firms, and in January of this year we announced that a further eight factories, totalling 100,000 sq. ft., will be built in the area under our latest and biggest advance factory programme.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs have been created in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region within the past two years.

Mr. Anthony Grant

The full figures are not available, but an estimate, based on jobs expected to arise in projects which received industrial development certificates in the two-year period to 30th September 1973, is as follows:

Jobs estimated to arise
1971–72 11,170
1972–73 18,060
29,230

The IDC exemption limit in the region was raised in July 1972. The figures exclude jobs arising from non-manufacturing projects and additional employment in existing buildings.