§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the £36 million grant to Ford for its Bridgend plant as announced in May is to be increased to £150 million in spite of its contravening the Government's 5 per cent. wage policy; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Les Huckfield:An offer of £75 million in the form of interest relief grant was made to the Ford Motor Company in January to assist engine and car related developments creating or preserving jobs in Ford's United Kingdom plants, mainly in Wales and the North-West. This offer was announced in "Trade and Industry" on 19th May 1978. In addition, the project will attract payments of regional development grants estimated to amount to some £70 million. No further offer of assistance in respect of this project has been made to the company since January. I would also refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 5th December.—[Vol. 959, c. 590.]