HC Deb 23 March 1979 vol 964 c159W
Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Keighley of 8 March, if the provision of job opportunities in the Bradford area by the Thorn Group will be regarded as one of the merits taken into account in any application for financial assistance to the Thorn Group.

Mr. Les Huckfield

Regional employment considerations are of particular relevance to applications for assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972. But the basic consideration remains the viability of the project and of the applicant company. There are various schemes and categories of assistance under section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 and other legislation under which Thorn could apply and each of these has its own criteria which determine whether assistance is given.