Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Industry what aid has been given to the textile industry over the last two years.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe amount of assistance offered or paid to the textile industry in Great Britain in the calendar years 1979 and 1980 is set out in the table below:—
1979 £ million 1980 £ million Industry Act 1972 Sections 7 and 8 (value of offers) 11.9 6.2 Regional development grants (amount paid) 10.9 11.5 Temporary employment subsidy (estimated payments) *3.0 — Temporary short-time working Compensation scheme (reimbursements approved) 2.6 28.5 TOTAL 28.4 46.2 Notes *. Includes payments under the TES scheme in first three months of 1980, and payments under the Short Time Working Compensation Scheme (not the TSTWC) between January 1979 and January 1980.
In addition the textile industry will have benefited substantially from the tax savings in respect of capital allowances and stock relief received by industry and commerce.