§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many firms in the Tameside metropolitan borough area have received regional development grant or financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in each of the last three calendar years; what was the cost of such assistance; and what proportion of these firms employed fewer than 200 people.
§ Mr. MacGregorDetails of offers of assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 are available only in respect of projects located in the Ashton-under-Lyne travel-to-work-area (excluding Glossop) where in the last three calendar years, the following offers have been accepted:
Calendar Year No. of Firms Assistance Offered and Accepted (£000) 1978 9 1,162 1979 13 769 1980 8 175 14 of the firms concerned employed less than 200. The corresponding information relating to regional development grants cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.