§ Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with the scheme for providing grants for mineral exploration under the Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972.
§ Mr. TrippierFollowing an initial review of this grant scheme, I have decided, from today, to suspend further offers of assistance under this scheme. In its present form, the mineral exploration grants scheme is expensive to administer and provides a flat rate of grant on a non-selective basis towards all qualifying expenditure on exploration for non-ferrous ores and certain other40W Kingdom, the telecommunications code contained in schedule 2 to the Act, subject to the exceptions and conditions set out in schedule 4 to the proposed licence.
The notice, which will be published in appropriate national and local government newspapers, will state that copies of the proposed licence can be obtained from the Department of Trade and Industry, and that any representations should be made by 17 September to my Department. Copies of both the notice and the proposed licence are available in the Library of the House.