§ Mr. Alec Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many regional development grants were made in Wales in the last four years on individual items of machinery or plant costing less than £500 and on individual buildings, extensions of buildings, adaptations or works costing less than £5,000; and what was their total value.
§ Mr. David Mitchell,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23 July 1979; Vol. 971, c. 15], gave the following answer:
Since the beginning of the regional development grants scheme in 1972, plant and machinery assets valued at less than £100 and building and works assets valued at less than £1,000 have not been eligible for grant. I regret that the information is not available in the form requested and could not be provided without disproportionate cost and effort. However, it is estimated that in a full year the increase in the minimum values from £100 to £500 in respect of plant and machinery and from £1,000 to £5,000 in respect of buildings and works will reduce public expenditure in Wales by £2.7 million.