HC Deb 16 April 1981 vol 3 cc252-3W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for selective assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act were received by his Department in each year during which the Act has been in force; how many applications were refused in each year; how many were refused on the grounds that such a grant was unnecessary; and what information he has as to the number of manufacturing and service sector firms which planned to locate in Wales over the whole period which have not done so as a result of being unable to obtain selective assistance.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

The Welsh Office took over responsibility for providing selective assistance under section 7 of the industry Act 1972 for projects in Wales from 1 July 1975. The number of applications received and rejected since that date is:

Received Rejected
1975/76 (part year) 93 26
1976/77 138 7
1977/78 194 11
1978/79 230 12
1979/80 215 23
1980/81 131 15

Six applications have been rejected on the grounds that assistance was unnecessary. Twenty manufacturing projects and five service industry projects which planned to locate in Wales did not go ahead following rejection of selective financial assistance applications.

Mr. Hooson

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is (a) the average local government rates payable by domestic consumers occupying a house of average rateable value in Wales in 1981–82 and (b) the average bill for such a property without rate support grant of the 36p domestic subvention.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

Applying the average domestic rate poundage for 1981–82 to the average rateable value per domestic hereditament as at September 1980 yields a rate bill of £152. If neither block grant nor domestic rate relief was payable the comparable domestic rate bill would be £514.