HC Deb 09 April 2003 vol 403 cc249-50W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants and other financial assistance have been made available to Hyster for the expansion of manufacturing at its Craigavon plant; and what assessment has been made of the impact on other Hyster plants in the UK as a result of grants given to support the expansion of manufacturing at its Craigavon plant. [108117]

Mr. Pearson

My officials at Invest NI are in the process of finalising an agreement with NACCO Materials Handling Group, which manufactures a full range of forklift trucks under the Hyster and Yale brands. As that agreement has not yet been signed or approved by the Board of NACCO, I cannot provide you with specific financial information. I can, however, state that this project is not an expansion of current activities, but is aimed at securing and safeguarding current employment levels at Craigavon and an integral part of the appraisal process is to ensure that any proposed assistance does not disadvantage any other area of the UK.