§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money was paid in (a) grants and (b) loans from (i) European Economic Community sources and (ii) United Kingdom sources to Ulster Country Products; and what steps he intends to take to recover such sums.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerIn accordance with the disclosure arrangements for Northern Ireland announced by my hon. Friend, the Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw) on 17 December 1980, commitments of selective financial assistance made to this firm by the Local Enterprise Development Unit and the Department of Commerce remain confidential because they were made before 1 October 1980. Ulster Country Products Ltd. is now in receivership and, if appropriate, a claim will be lodged by LEDU for the recovery of any outstanding debts.
I can, however, reveal that a grant of £37,473 has been paid to Ulster Country Products Ltd. from the European social fund. The Department of Manpower Services has also paid grants—£34,106 under the training on employers premises scheme and £19,650 under the management structure grant scheme. No action will be taken to recover any of these grants because all the conditions related to them have been met.