§ Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will now extend the scope of the boiler conversion scheme so that retail traders may apply for grant aid to convert boilers from oil to coal burning.
§ Mr. Norman LamontRetail traders who fall within division 6 of the Standard Industrial Classification—Revised 1980—are already elegible to apply for grant assistance under the coal firing scheme.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether loans from the European Coal and Steel Community to encourage switching to coal firing are now available under the exchange risk guarantee scheme.
§ Mr. Norman LamontYes. The Government have reached an agreement with the European Coal and Steel Community and Finance For Industry that will enable 37W companies to apply for ECSC loans under the exchange risk guarantee scheme. All projects that are eligible for grant assistance under the coal firing scheme will in principle also be eligible for an ECSC loan. All applications for loans under the exchange risk guarantee scheme should be made to the Department of Industry.