HC Deb 30 June 1975 vol 894 cc327-8W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a detailed analysis of the sums received by various sectors of industry by way of Government financing of innovation during each of the last five years and the corresponding projected sums for each of the next three years, giving in each case the estimated proportion that will be expended in Wales.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

Total Government expenditure on industrial innovation, and a breakdown by sub-programme, is published in Table 2.4 of the 1974 Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 5897). Records of past and estimates of future expenditure are kept by programme and on a United Kingdom basis, and I regret, therefore, that the further information requested is not available.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether current United Kingdom State aids to industry are considered by the EEC to be compatible with Article 92 of the Rome Treaty.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

Under the Treaty of Rome the Commission has the power to review national aids, and to decide whether they are compatible with the treaty. The Commission has not informed us that it considers any current United Kingdom aid to be incompatible.