§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the prospects for the United Kingdom paper industry during the next five years.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe United Kingdom paper and board industry faces a number of problems during the next five years, including preparing itself for a return to free trade with our former EFTA partners by 1984. The Paper and Board Sector Working Party is considering the prospects for the industry, and how its international competitive position can be improved. The £23 million scheme of financial assistance launched last June to encourage the industry to make greater use of indigenous fibres will help to alleviate one of its main current problems, that is the high cost of imported wood pulp.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry how much of the £23 million scheme for financial assistance to the paper and board industry has been allocated; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Alan WilliamsGrants of £3.9 million have been approved towards capital expenditure of £19.3 million on 14 projects. A further 14 projects are under appraisal by my Department, involving requests for assistance of £2.3 million towards capital expenditure of £9.9 million. The Department has been advised by prospective applicants of a number of projects for which assistance will be requested in the next few months.