§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will list in tabular form grant aid made available to organisations in regions of the United Kingdom, established to promote industrial activity in those regions; and if he will make a statement as to the basis on which grant aid is allocated;
(2) what representations he has received urging that grant aid made available to the Yorkshire and Humberside Development Association be increased; what is the present level of grant aid made to the association; and on what basis that grant is calculated;
(3) what applications have been submitted in the past year from organisations in the regions of the United Kingdom, established to promote industrial activity, requesting increased grant aid; what newly established bodies of this type have requested grant aid or increased grant aid; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CryerThe following regional development associations in England receive grant aid:
These grants take account of the working population and unemployment in the areas which the associations cover. Representations have recently been made by all three associations for an increase in their grants. These requests are under consideration. No newly established bodies of this type have requested grant aid. Questions in relation to grants paid to the Scottish Council and the Development Corporation for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. 291W Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
- North of England Development Council: £106,600 for 1976–7.
- North-West Industrial Development Association: £67,500 for 1976–7.
- Yorkshire and Humberside Development Association: £15,000 for 1976–7.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Industry how much each region of the United Kingdom has received from the EEC Regional Development Fund to date.
Mr. Alan WilliamsSince the inception of the European Regional Development Fund in 1975 the Commission has agreed to contribute towards the cost of approved projects in eligible areas of the United Kingdom as follows:
£000's Northern … 14,425 North-West … 7,177 Yorkshire and Humberside … 2,292 East Midlands assisted areas … 297 West Midlands assisted areas … 11 South West assisted areas … 946 England … 25,148 Northern Ireland … 12,719 Scotland … 16,007 Wales … 12,368 United Kingdom … 66,242