HC Deb 26 March 1979 vol 965 cc43-4W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West Official Report, 20 March, column 769. with regard to overpayment of investment grants amounting to £47,043, why these overpayments were made, and what steps have been taken to recover these amounts from the companies concerned; what, if any, disciplinary measures have been taken arising from these losses; and in what way procedures in his Department have been changed to avoid such errors occurring again.

Mr. Les Huckfield

Grants amounting to £46,247 were paid in respect of expenditure incurred in 1966–68 on assets purporting to be hired to an associated company. The Department later con-

Mr. Les Huckfield

I understand France is only one of the countries Ford is currently considering for its new car plant. Should the investment be placed in an EEC country and assistance offered, the member State will have to inform the Commission in the usual way.