§ 2. Mr. Costainasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs to what extent the Regional Employment Premium is being used by firms in order to purchase labour-saving machinery.
§ Mr. UrwinI am not aware of any evidence that the Regional Employment Premium is being so used, although the White Paper on the R.E.P. envisaged that Development Area firms might become more competitive through the application of the premium in a number of different ways.
§ 35. Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimates he has made of the effect of the Regional Employment Premium on employment in the development area; and what he expects the cost of the premium to be in the current year.
§ Mr. UrwinIt is estimated that about 100,000 new jobs should arise in the Development Areas over a period of years. The premium is expected to cost about £100 million this year.