HC Deb 13 December 1977 vol 941 cc111-2W
Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if any grant or loan has been allocated by any European agency for steel projects in Workington and near Motherwell.

Mr. Les Huckfield

The European Investment Bank has approved loans totalling £70.2 million to steel projects at Motherwell, a loan of £2.1 million to a steel project at the Distington plant, and a loan of £11.4 million to modernisation works at the Workington and the Distington plants.

The European Commission has approved contributions from the European Regional Development Fund of £0–8 million towards the cost of United Kingdom regional aid to the plate mill expansion at Dalzell. Motherwell and £0.6 million towards the cost of United Kingdom regional aid to improve mould refurbishing facilities at Distington near Workington.

The European Commission has also approved a loan of £4 million from European Coal and Steel Community funds towards replacing coke ovens at Ravenscraig, Motherwell.

Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if any grant or loan has been allocated by any European agency for steel research projects on noise, fume control and waste recycling.

Mr. Les Huckfield

In its decision of 6th August 1974 the Commission allocated 10 million units of account for a research programme over a five-year period which would cover noise, fume and dust control, pollution and waste disposal or elimination. About £260,000 has been allocated for five projects in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if any grant or loan has been allocated by any European agency for the new welded steel tube plant at Tafarnaubach, South Wales.

Mr. Les Huckfield

There have been two loans from the European Coal and Steel Community for the new welded steel tube plant at Tafarnaubach, South Wales: one in 1976 of £1.25 million and one in 1977 of £1.09 million.