§ Mr. Hicksasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will seek to abolish the four-month waiting period for the payment of regional development grants to companies located in United Kingdom assisted areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe four months' deferment in the payments of approved regional development grants was announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 June 1979 as a contribution to the public expenditure savings.
I recognise that ending the deferment would be welcomed by some parts of industry; but there is a continuing need to restrain public expenditure and this is not a measure to which priority can be given at this time.