HC Deb 13 October 1975 vol 897 cc587-8W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report details of all grants and loans to firms on Merseyside from EEC sources since 1st January 1973.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Information on the financial benefits to Merseyside firms from the budget of the European Communities since the United Kingdom joined the Community on 1st January 1973 is not separately available. However, the European Investment Bank has made loans to the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation for on-lending to small and medium sized firms in the assisted areas, enabling the ICFC to provide a £220,000 loan for the manufacture of sugar confectionery at Liverpool. In addition the European Coal and Steel Community has agreed to lend British Leyland £5.1 million to assist the redeployment of redundant steel workers.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what loans and guarantees have been approved by the European Investment Bank for projects in the Merseyside and Greater Manchester areas since 1st January 1973.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

The European Investment Bank has not so far given any guarantees for projects in the United Kingdom, nor has it granted any loans for projects in the Greater Manchester area. In the Merseyside area one project has been financed from loans provided by the Bank to the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation for on-lending to small and medium-sized firms in the assisted areas. This was a £220,000 loan for the manufacture of sugar confectionery at Liverpool.

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