§ 2.51 p.m.
§ Lord Taylor of BlackburnMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
829 The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the local authorities to emulate Lancashire's Lancashire Enterprise Limited.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Elton)My Lords, it is for the local authorities themselves to decide how best to promote local economic development within the framework of their existing powers and duties. As I told my noble friend Lord Harmar-Nicholls in a written reply on 22nd July, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State is now considering whether special provision for local authorities to spend on economic development is desirable or necessary and expects to come to a conclusion early in the New Year.
§ Lord Taylor of BlackburnMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Will he inform his noble friend the Secretary of State for Employment what a good job Lancashire Enterprise Limited is doing? Since its formation it has created 3,176 new jobs, and it is providing 1,346 training places. It has done that at a cost of £2,876. This year it has made a profit of half a million pounds, and also this year it has started 14 new training places. Will the noble Lord inform his noble friend and colleague what Lancashire is doing?
§ Lord EltonMy Lords, in view of the distance which separates me from my noble friend, I think that I can undertake that task!