§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance and grants are available from his Department to engineering companies in South Lancashire. [66028]
§ Mr. WillsWithin the Assisted Area in Lancashire, RSA is available to almost all businesses investing in manufacturing, as also to businesses in the service industry which serve a wider rather than a local market.
Business Links and TECs also have a wide range of business support services available to companies throughout Lancashire.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his Department offers to indigenous British industries that wish to expand their operations. [66027]
§ Mr. WillsThe main form of assistance provided by the Department is Regional Selective Assistance. The scheme offers grants on a selective basis to firms planning new investment which creates or safeguards jobs in the Assisted Areas. In the last financial year (1997–98) around £65 million of grant was offered to UK owned firms in England.