§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms in the textile industry that received grants from the Department have subsequently ceased production in Britain and utilised grants in overseas locations in each of the last five years. [44559]
§ Mr. AlexanderOffers of grant from the Department are subject to a finite period of monitoring.
The Department's selective assistance database shows that in the last five financial years to 31 March 2001, 242 offers of Regional Selective Assistance or Enterprise Grant were made in England to firms in the textile sector. Of those which received payments of grant and were subject to conditions of the grant offer letter, 10 firms ceased trading. Eight of these firms went into liquidation. In the other two cases, one closed without notice after receiving £8,000 grant. The second, involving grant of £825,000 was subject to a Management Buy Out and remains active in the UK.