HC Deb 05 December 1977 vol 940 cc562-3W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will set out the last date for applications for assistance under all the Industry Act schemes which are due to terminate during the next 12 months, indicating in each case whether he has yet decided to extend the date or not.

Mr. Cryer

The last dates for receipt of applications under Industry Act schemes of Selective Assistance scheduled to end before 1st January 1979 are:

  • Clothing industry scheme, 31st December 1977
  • Drop-forging industry scheme, 31st December 1978
  • Electronic components industry scheme, 31st July 1978
  • Machine tool industry scheme, 31st December 1977
  • Non-ferrous foundry industry scheme, 31st July 1978
  • Paper and board industry scheme, 30th June 1978
  • Assistance to the printing machinery industry, 31st December 1977
  • Redmeat Slaughterhouse industry scheme, 30th November 1978
  • Assistance to the textile machinery industry, 31st December 1977
  • Wool textiles (phase 2) industry scheme, 31st December 1977
  • Selective investment scheme, 30th June 1978.

The closing date for the receipt of applications under the Wool Textiles (Phase 2) Scheme has recently been extended from 30th September 1977 to 31st December 1977 and steps have been taken to draw this to the attention of potential applicants.

There are no plans at present to extend the closing date of any other of these schemes.

MERCHANT SHIPS (100 GROSS TONS AND OVER)
Launchings as a percentage of World Tonnage
Per cent.
1964 1970 1976
Tyneside, Teesside, Wearside … … … 5.2 2.7 1.7
Northern Ireland … … … … … 0.9 1.1 1.6
Scotland … … … … … … 3.7 1.6 0.8
Rest of the United Kingdom … … … 0.4 0.3 0.3
United Kingdom … … … … … 10.2 5.7 4.3*
* The sum of the regional percentages is not equal to the total for the United Kingdom because of rounding.

Source: Lloyds Register of Shipping; Department of Industry.

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Polish Minister, his co-signatory of the Anglo-Polish shipbuilding agreement.

Mr. Les Huckfield

The discussions with the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Shipping of the Polish People's Republic on his recent visit were mainly