§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress the Department of Economic Development has made with its review of the standard capital grant scheme.
§ Mr. ButlerThe Department of Economic Development has taken the views of a wide range of interested bodies and is considering these and the other evidence related to the standard capital grants scheme. I would expect to announce the general conclusions of the review later in the year. The review has, however,266W identified that there exists a considerable degree of abuse of the scheme in relation to mobile plant. Despite increased enforcement activities by the Department it has not been possible to put an end to this abuse. I have therefore decided that claims in relation to expenditure on mobile plant which is incurred and paid after 31 August 1984 will no longer be accepted by the Department of Economic Development.