§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Industry why the claim, dated 30 January and 8 February of the current year, of Netaline-Air Distribution Products Ltd., St. Helens, for a regional development grant claim covering the period June 1979 to December 1979, which was acknowledged on 16 February of the current year, took four months to be met; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellApplications for regional development grant have to be examined to ensure that the rules which govern their payment are met. Since the commencement of the scheme in 1972 the average time taken to examine and approve applications has been about 13 weeks and the application from Netaline-Air Products Limited was processed within this time scale. In common with all applications made after 12 June 1979, this application is subject to the four months deferment in the payment of grant on approved claims announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Speech on that date as part of the Government's essential cuts in public expenditure.