Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many Government-sponsored foreign visitors were shown the industrial potential of the North-West region in 1979 and 1980; how many such visits are planned for the North-West region in 1981–82; and if he will take action to ensure that more Government-sponsored foreign visitors, visit the North-West region.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe number of foreign visitors, sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and interested in the industrial scene in the North-West region in 1979 and 1980 was 45 and 42 respectively. The number to date in 1981 is 19; it is expected that the figures for the rest of 1981 and for 1982 will be similar. Efforts are made to arrange as many visits as possible to the North-West. The number of inquiries about industrial sites made to the North-West regional office of this Department, resulting in officially accompanied visits by overseas industrialists were as follows: 1979, 20; 1980, 26; 1981 (to date) 13. In some cases a visit involved more than one company and-or more than one individual. The financial incentives available and the other attractions of the North-West are drawn to the attention of overseas industrialists by the Invest in Britain Bureau and staff in the United Kingdom diplomatic posts overseas.