§ 13. Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new companies have set up in the three enterprise zones in the constituency of Glanford and Scunthorpe, giving their names; how many net new jobs have been created thereby; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungThe best information that we have, which was provided by the local authorities, is that two firms have set up in the Glanford zone and five in the Scunthorpe zone since designation. To save the time of the House, I shall write to my hon. Friend with their names. We do not yet have details of jobs in the zones.
§ Mr. HickmetIs it not a fact that free enterprise zones, development area status, a massive building programme by English Industrial Estates and Government assistance to Scunthorpe should enable it to reduce unemployment significantly? Will my hon. Friend bear in mind anxiety about the local authority's decision to allow a retail development covering eight acres in one of the enterprise zones, which will cause damage to the town centre?
§ Sir George YoungI welcome the optimism in my hon. Friend's opening remarks. He has expressed concern to my Department about the retail development to which he refers. The evidence shows that retail developments in enterprise zones do not adversely affect existing retail projects in nearby shopping centres, not least because the economy of the area as a whole benefits from the injection of an enterprise zone. We have the matter under review and we shall be monitoring this year the new enterprise zones set up a few years ago.