34.
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is now the total amount of public money lent, promised, or given to the Kirkby co-operative.
My Department has made three separate amounts of assistance available to Kirkby Manufacturing and Engineering Co. Ltd. under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972. My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State announced to the House in November 1974 a £.3·9 million grant, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State subsequently announced in April 1977 a further grant of £860,000. It has also recently been agreed to make available to the company temporary assistance of up to £150,000 to cover its losses while a working party considers ways of preserving employment at the factory. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that if the proposals meet the Industry Act criteria he will exercise his powers to the fullest extent that they are available under the Industry Act to give effect to the working party's recommendation.