Gross Expenditure on Uk Industrial Assistance: A Research Note

Abstract

This note presents annual figures for gross expenditure on UK central government assistance to industry over the period 1960‐90. This is part of onging research on the determinants and effects of UK industrial assistance. All figures are at corrent prices and a breakdown is provided between various components of policy, comprising national assistance, industrial and firm specific assistance, technology support, civil aircraft aid, shipbuilding assistance and local employment and regional policy.

Competitiveness Policy in the 1990s

“…While some of the measures introduced will undoubtedly be beneficial – indeed, a number of institutional changes are proposed that in the long run are likely to bring benefits (e.g. Business Links and the encouragement of networking in the SME sector) – these exist against a background of general reduction in government expenditure on industry support measures, particularly R&D. Indeed, as indicated above, there has been a gradual erosion of support expenditure for industry which is now concentrated in limited industry measures and nationally available assistance, regional measures and support for aerospace (Wren, 1996).…”

Grant Equivalent Expenditure on Industrial Subsidies in the Post‐war United Kingdom

“…The estimated discounted cash flow value of the incentives for each asset type are given in Appendix Tables B and C. These are disaggregated by national and regional subsidy rates for plant and machinery and industrial buildings, and in aggregate can be reconciled with those reported in Melliss and Richardson (1976) for the years 1946 to 1974. Detailed figures for gross expenditure on industrial assistance in the UK, excluding the tax allowances, are given in Wren (1996a).…”