§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many spinning mills and weaving mills have closed in 1973, 1974 and up to the last convenient date in 1975 in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
§ Mr. MeacherThe following figures on closures in West Yorkshire of wool textile firms are based on returns from firms liable to pay levy under Article 4(a) of the Wool Textile Industry (Export Promotion Levy) Order 1970 and the Wool Textile Industry (Scientific Research Levy) Order 1970, i.e., manufacturers as distinct from merchants. They are based on the date when a closure was notified to the administrators of the levies which is often in arrears of actual closure.
1973 1974 1975 (to date) 22 22 7 These closures cover all wool textile manufacturing activities, since separate information on spinning and weaving is not available.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report measures available to assist textile firms in the intermediate areas.
§ Mr. HefferThe main measures available are regional development grants for the provision of new buildings and the adaptation of existing buildings and selective assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act. Firms which qualify for assistance under the Wool Textile Industry Scheme, a special scheme involving assistance under Section 8 of the Industry Act, are not also eligible for assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act. Where a project is eligible for both228W Section 8 assistance and regional development grants the payment of Section 8 assistance is net of any payment of regional development grants.