§ Mr. Blakerasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of all the assistance given or approved by the European Coal and Steel Community since 31st December 1972 by way of grant or loan in respect of projects in the United Kingdom, stating in each case the amount, the rate of interest if applicable, a brief description of the project and where possible its geographical location.
§ Mr. HefferThe following loan, assistance has been approved by the Commission for projects in the steel industry
Scunthorpe: coke oven expansion. A loan of £18 million.Scunthorpe: installation of 4 strand rod mills. A loan of £7.8 million.Ravenscraig (Lanarkshire): expansion of steelmaking capacity. A loan of £14.8 millionTempleborough (Sheffield): installation of fume cleaning equipment. A loan of £1.25 million.Of this total of £41.85 million, the Commission has so far offered £18 million at an interest rate of 9¼ per cent., of which £5.5 million will qualify for interest rebate of 3 per cent. for five years. Interest terms for the balance are still to be negotiated.
No applications in respect of projects in industries other than the coal and steel industries for reconversion assistance have yet been approved by the Commission.
366WGrant assistance has also been approved of £152,000 in respect of 1974–75 towards various research projects.
Details of assistance offered to the National Coal Board are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and he will be writing to the hon. Member.