§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will seek to amend the Industry Act 1972 in order to provide regional development grants for research laboratories and facilities where these are not directly attached to a manufacturing plant.
§ Mr. MacGregorScientific research is already a qualifying activity for regional development grant 319W purposes provided it relates to other qualifying activities—that is, mainly manufacturing. There is no requirement that the research should be carried on on the same premises as the qualifying activity to which it relates. A premises where qualifying research activities predominate can therefore receive regional development grant in the same way as a manufacturing establishment. If the hon. Member has a particular case of difficulty in mind, perhaps he would write to me about it.