§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many small firms in the Northern region have received assistance from the small firms counselling service.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe small firms service has dealt with 776 counselling cases in the Northern region since its commencement in November 1977 up to May 1979. Since March 1979 a technical counselling service has been available in the region and 14 small firms made use of this facility to May 1979.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in the Official Report, for each year since 1974, the amounts received by small firms in (a) regional development grants, (b) regional selective assistance, and (c) selective financial assistance in the Northern region; and if he will give for each year the number of firms receiving each category of grant.
§ Mr. David MitchellIn the period from 1 March 1974 to 30 April 1979, the following offers of regional selective assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 were made to firms in the Northern region employing 200 staff or less:
Year Number of projects Value of offer (£'000) 1974 52 1,066 1975 64 1,112 1976 68 1,004 1977 77 4,532 1978 61 3,399 1979 16 759 Total 338 11,872 I regret that similar information in respect of regional development grants and selective financial assistance is not readily available.