HC Deb 30 January 1986 vol 90 c1088
Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the measures taken over the last three years to combat unemployment in the Province together with the cost; and if he will state the number of new jobs created.

Dr. Boyson

In the three-year period to March 1985. £310 million was spent in Northern Ireland on job creation through industrial development agencies, community employment schemes and other measures. With the help of the development agencies and other measures, the private sector provided, or agreed to provide, almost 42,000 new jobs, while the community schemes created some 10,700 temporary jobs.

Mr. Pawsey

While thanking my hon. Friend for that typically helpful and complete reply, may I ask what action his Department is taking to encourage investment in Northern Ireland from the United States and Japan? Is he able to say approximately how many jobs have developed in the Province as a result of investment from those two countries?

Dr. Boyson

The first investment by Japan in Northern Ireland for employment purposes came last year. From America we had a Du Pont investment last year of £45 million for plant that will create about 330 new jobs in a high-tech industry.