§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance he is giving to truck manufacturing in the north-west. [105263]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonWhile truck manufacturers based in the north-west of England have received no direct financial assistance from my Department in recent years, officials in London and the Government Office for the north-west in Manchester provide help and advice on a number of issues. In addition, north-west truck manufacturers benefit from wider automotive industry competitiveness and technology initiatives. These include the SMMT Industry Forum, to which the DTI has contributed £6.5 million, and the DTI-led Foresight Vehicle programme, to which the Government are contributing £12 million.