HC Deb 15 January 1981 vol 996 c594W
Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total paid in grant from Government funds to Courtaulds' Hadrian Mill, Carlisle, during its operations before and during the time it was in business.

Mr. MacGregor

Government financial asistance to industry is normally a confidential matter between the Department and the individual applicant, except where the arrangements for publishing details in"British Business"—formerly "Trade and Industry"—apply. Since 1974 regional development grant payments in excess of £25,000 and offers of selective financial assistance in excess of £5,000 have been so published. A regional development grant of £58,000 to Courtaulds at Carlisle was listed in the issue of 5 September 1975, and there have been no other listings in relation to the Hadrian Mill premises.

Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in respect of Hadrian Mill, Carlisle, Courtaulds Ltd. paid back any money from the grants received from public funds as a result of its decision to close completely its operations in Carlisle.

Mr. MacGregor

The Department is in close contact with Courtaulds concerning the closure of the company's Hadrian Mill premises and the possibility that some regional development grant may be repayable. But details of any amount to be repaid are a confidential matter between the company and the Department.

Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether part of the machinery installed by Government grant at Hadrian Mill, Carlisle, was eventually sold to an American company; and if his Department was in any way consulted before the sale was agreed.

Mr. MacGregor

It is not a condition of regional development grant that a grantee should obtain the approval of the Department of Industry before disposing of grant-aided assets, but it is a condition that such an event should be reported within a period of three months. The grant paid then becomes repayable in whole or in part.

The Department is, of course, aware of the closure of Courtaulds' Hadrian Mill premises and is in contact with the company about the possibility that some regional development grant may be repayable.