§ 33. Mr. Terlezkiasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have been assisted under the business improvement services so far; and how much money has been disbursed.
§ Mr. TrippierAt 31 March 1985 my Department had received 1,218 applications for grants totalling £12.8 million; had made 462 offers totalling £2.48 million; and had made 15 payments worth £0.03 million under business improvement services to small firms in eligible steel, shipbuilding and textile areas in England. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales had received 183 applications worth £1.44 million, and had made four offers worth £1,815 in respect of business improvement services for steel areas in Wales. No grant payments have yet been made in Wales.
§ 35. Mr. Galleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much expenditure under the business improvement services has been committed to date; how much has been spent in each eligible area; and how much expenditure he anticipates in the financial year 1985–86.
§ Mr. TrippierInformation on business improvement services in England for the period 26 November 1984 to 31 March 1985 is as follows:—
Area Value of Grants Committed (£) Value of Grants Paid (£) England: North East Region 357,393 Nil North West Region 560,295 1,500 Yorkshire and Humberside Region 1,337,783 24,849 East Midland Region 211,695 5,124 2,467,166 31,473 My Department's estimated expenditure in England on business improvement services for 1985–86 is £8.65 million.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has estimated that £2.1 million will be spent in 1985–86 on business improvement services in Wales. No grant payments have yet been made in Wales.
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