HC Deb 17 May 1982 vol 24 cc24-5W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many steering location inquiries had been received in the North-West region of his Department; and of these how many had been referred to the Cumbria county council industrial development unit during the last month for which statistics are available;

(2) how many applications for information of an industrial or service development nature his Department has received in the North-West region during the last month; and how many of these his Department has referred to Cumbria council's industrial development unit.

Mr. MacGregor

In April 1982 the North-West regional office received 1,266 inquiries of an industrial or service development nature of which 1,038 related to Government financial assistance and 20 of which were locational inquiries.

None were specifically referred to the Cumbria county council industrial development unit, but the North-West regional office maintains close contacts with its officers who had referred many of the inquiries to the Department.

The small firms service in the North-West region received some 2,318 inquiries in April 1982 many of which would have been concerned with information of an industrial or service development nature. Information on whether any of the inquirers were referred to the Cumbria county council industrial development unit is not recorded.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total area of industrial floor space allocated for industrial or service trade occupancy by the English Industrial Estates Corporation in each of the travel-to-work areas in (a) Cumbria, (b) the Northern region and (c) the North-West region for the last month for which statistics are available.

Mr. MacGregor

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.