Easington

HC Deb 19 January 1988 vol 125 cc669-70W

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to encourage the development of high technology industry in the district of Easington following the winding-up of the Peterlee and Aycliffe development corporation.

Mr. Butcher

Industry in Easington will be greatly encouraged by the enterprise initiative, with major new inititatives on design, marketing, quality, manufacturing technology, business planning, business information systems, exports, research and technology and business education backed up by investment and innovation grants for small firms (with fewer than 25 employees) and regional selective assistance where clearly necessary to bring about good projects.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will visit Easington to meet those industrialists whose firms have benefited from regional development grants.

since 1978–79 in turnover, net profit or loss, liquid steel production, numbers employed, productivity in terms of man hours per tonne and capital expenditure;

(3) if he will detail capital expenditure in each or the British Steel Corporation's integrated steel plants in each year since 1978–79;

(4) if he will list the following figures for each of the British Steel Corporation's integrated plants for each year since 1978–79 in turnover, net profit or loss, liquid steel production, number employed, productivity in terms of man hours per tonne and capital expenditure.

Mr. Atkins

BSC publishes capital expenditure and performance figures for the corporation as a whole. A more detailed breakdown by plant is unavailable since this information is commercially confidential. The same is true of plans for future capital expenditure at individual plants. The table gives the figures since 1978–79 for the corporation as published in the report and accounts for 1986–87:

Mr. Atkins

I shall be pleased if it proves possible for me to revisit Easington, where industrialists retain access to regional selective assistance, where clearly necessary, to bring about good projects.