HC Deb 25 January 1980 vol 977 cc409-10W
Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will list in the Official Reporteach local authority in England and Wales which will lose its assisted area status under the terms of clause 13 of the Industry Bill which has made representation to him about projects in its area that it feels might be affected through non-completion of the project by 1 August 1980; and if he will publish each threatened project affected and the amount of regional development grant for each project in each local government area;

(2) if he will list in the Official Report each local authority in Scotland which will lose its assisted area status under the terms of clause 13 of the Industry Bill which has made representations to him about projects in its area that it feels might be affected through non-completion of the project by 1 August 1980; and if he will publish each project affected and the amount of regional development grant for each project in each local government area.

Mr. David Mitchell

[pursuant to his reply, 24 January]: Although clause 13 does not make changes in the status of assisted areas, the changes in regional industrial policy announced on 17 July 1979 included changes in assisted areas and the availability and rates of regional development grant. Representations about these changes have been received from a number of sources including local authorities. The detailed information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West on 14 January, what assumptions other than those concerning gross domestic product of steel imports he regards as necessary to provide a sufficient basis for making reliable estimates of crude steel production.

Mr. David Mitchell

[pursuant to his reply, 24 January 1980]: In order to make a reliable estimate of steel production it is necessary to make assumptions about the course of steel exports, changes in steel stocks and the performance of the main steel-using industries, such as motor vehicles, mechanical and electrical engineering, construction and shipbuilding.