§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is able to estimate the amount of cash aid given from Government funds to the timber-using industry in each region of the United Kingdom; what are the largest pulp mill and timber-board projects supported by Government funds in the last five years.
§ Mr. CryerThe tables below give details of selective financial assistance offered under Sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 to the timber and furniture industries, as defined in Order XVII of the Standard Industrial Classification, and to the pulp, paper and converting industries, included in Order XVIII.
Detailed information on the amount of regional development grants and other forms of assistance to industry—for example, for research—is not available in the form requested, and a disproportionate cost and staff effort would be required to extract and analyse all payments. Details of regional development grants paid, broken down by groups of qualifying activities and by areas, are published each year in the annual report on the Industry Act 1972.
The only offer of assistance for a wood pulp mill project within the last five years has been to St. Anne's Board Mill Company Ltd. at Bristol. Loans amounting to £1.3 million were advanced to Scottish Timber Products Ltd. to help set up a chipboard plant at Cowie, near Stirling, within the same period.
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ASSISTANCE UNDER THE INDUSTRY ACT 1972 FROM THE START OF THE ACT BY FINANCIAL YEAR AND REGION (a) SECTION 7 ASSISTANCE OFFERED £'000 To the Timber and Furniture Industries Year 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 Region Number of projects Value of offers Number of projects Value of offers Number of projects Value of offers Number of projects Value of offers Number of projects Value of offers Scotland … … … 2 70 5 33 7 181 5 38 9 466 Wales … … … 2 27 8 167 6 71 4 37 7 572 Northern … … … 5 109 14 396 5 124 8 371 7 200 North-West … … … — — 5 179 11 1,120 9 62 13 83 Yorkshire and Humberside 1 45 8 152 9 229 8 113 11 197 South-West … … … — — 1 24 2 24 4 157 1 2 East Midlands … … — — 1 27 3 18 1 32 5 63 West Midlands … … — — — — — — — — 1 24 Total … … … 10 251 42 978 43 1,767 39 810 54 1,607 (b) SECTION 8 ASSISTANCE OFFERED IN THE SAME REPIOD To the Timber and Furniture Industries 1 offer of £300,000 made to a firm in the West Midlands region in 1976–77
ASSISTANCE UNDER THE INDUSTRY ACT 1972 FROM THE START OF THE ACT BY FINANCIAL YEAR AND REGION (a) SECTION 7 ASSISTANCE OFFERED £'000 To the Pulp, Paper and Converting Industries Year 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 Region Number of projects Value of offers Number of projects Value of offers Number of projects Value of offers Number of projects Value of offers Number of projects Value of offers Scotland … … … — — 2 135 3 373 4 357 10 2,235 Wales … … … 1 15 2 75 3 134 3 60 2 104 Northern … … … 1 2 7 349 2 52 7 138 7 251 North-West … … … — — 6 750 12 597 7 146 14 748 Yorkshire and Humberside — — 2 200 4 166 3 40 5 83 South-West … … … — — — — — — — — — — East Midlands … … 1 15 1 13 1 1 3 30 1 3 West Midlands … … — — — — — — — — — — Total … … … 3 32 20 1,522 25 1,323 27 771 39 3,424
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(b) SECTION 8 ASSISTANCE OFFERED IN THE SAME PERIOD To the Pulp, Paper and Converting Industries No assistance offered in 1972–73, 1973–74 or 1974–75 No assistance offered to firms in East Midlands and West Midlands 1975–76 1976–77 Number of projects Value of offers Number of projects Value of offers Scotland … … … … … … … … … … — — 4 1,117 Wales … … … … … … … … … … — — 1 122 Northern … … … … … … … … … … — — 1 1,376 North-West … … … … … … … … … 1 82 2 545 Yorkshire and Humberside … … … … … … … — — 2 193 South-West … … … … … … … … … — — 3 1,826 Eastern … … … … … … … … … … 1 97 1 174 London and South-East … … … … … … … — — 6 1,960 Total … … … … … … … … … 2 179 20 7,313