HC Deb 23 January 1984 vol 52 cc615-6
1. Mr. Hooson

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average cost per job created under the urban programme in Wales in 1983–84.

The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. John Stradling Thomas)

The urban programme is not specifically aimed at job creation and no comprehensive figure is available. However, local authorities have estimated that some 2,700 jobs would be created or safeguarded by the new schemes costing £11.15 million introduced in 1983–84. Of course, these schemes could lead to many more jobs being created indirectly.

Mr. Hooson

Does not that sum of £11 million translate into about £2,000 or £3,000 per potential job, and is not that figure encouraging when compared with the estimate by the Department of Trade and Industry of about £35,000 per job in assisted area schemes? Does not that show that there should be increased emphasis on future urban aid programmes?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I agree with my hon. Friend on that point. The urban programme and urban development grants are doing an extremely effective job.

Mr. Ron Davies

Is there not a real likelihood that this year local authorities will be unable to take up their full allocations of urban aid because of the constraints imposed by the Government on their expenditure? If the Secretary of State wishes to encourage the further involvement of local authorities in the urban aid programme, should he not consider exempting expenditure on the scheme's general administration and revenue contributions to specific programmes from overall expenditure limits imposed on them?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I cannot give an undertaking to do that. We have been informed by Welsh local authorities that schemes approved in 1983–84 involving £1.8 million did not proceed this year as a result of the voluntary moratorium on capital expenditure. Those schemes will now start in 1984–85, with the appropriate exenditure being included in the local authorities, urban programme capital allocation.

Mr. loan Evans

As more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs in Wales have been lost since the Conservative party took office, what positive steps do the Government intend to take? As well as urban aid, will they consider restoring regional assistance to those areas that have been denied it by the Government?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

As the hon. Gentleman will know, a review of regional policy is going on. I cannot at this stage predict the outcome.

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