§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Industry what study has been made in the context of United Kingdom industrial planning strategy of contrats de croissance in France and analogous instruments of intervention in other EEC countries; whether any practices of which information was gained have been adopted in United Kingdom policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CryerA study of the variousinstruments of intervention applied in EEC and other countries was made during the period leading up to the establishment of the Industry Act 1975. Measures of this nature are kept under constant review. We have looked at the contrats de croissance concept to see if it is relevant to the United Kingdom situation. These arrangements are between the French Government and companies and bear some resemblance to planning agreements. Italy and Belgium have similar arrangements.
My officials continually review and discuss with those of the respective Governments
£ million Item (identified as in answer given on 23rd October 1975) Years Sub-Division (where applicable) 1975–76 1976–77 (provisional) Investment Grants* … … … — 56.4 24.0 Local Employment Acts† … … … — 15.8 12.6 Civil Aerospace and other R&D‡ … — 259.9 153.1 Industrial Reorganisation Corporation§ — -1.0 -1.6 Shipbuilding Industry Special Assistance║ Grants … … … … 9.5 6.4 Loans … … … … 29.0 6.9 Purchase of Shares … … 7.0 3.4 (All figures are at historic prices and net of repayment.) Notes to Table: * Excludes payments to public corporations. † Includes loans, grants and provision of Land and Buildings. A breakdown between loans and grants is not readily available. ‡ Includes expenditure on civil aerospace and on general industrial research and development. § Figures represent receipts from repayment of loans and disposal of shares, together with interest and dividends, but excludes the value of loans and shares transferred to the NEB. ║ Figures include all assistance given specifically to the Shipbuilding industry including that under Part II of the Industry Act 1972. They exclude support—such as investment grants—available to industry generally. The 1975–76 figures for purchase of shares includes conversion of loans made in 1974–75.