§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what has been the total number and the total value of offers of regional assistance made to companies in (a) Merseyside and (b) the Birkenhead travel-to-work area for each year since 1979;
(2) how many new firms and new jobs have been created as a result of offers of financial assistance received under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in (a) Merseyside and (b) the Birkenhead travel-to-work area for each yea' since 1979.
§ Mr. MacGregorIt is not possible to provide the information precisely in the form requested without undue cost, and therefore details of regional development grants are excluded. But selective Financial Assistance has been offered under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 as follows:
27W
Number of offers made Value of offers made £'000s Number of new projects involved Estimated employment arising from new projects Merseyside SDA 1979 105 22,172 5 129 1980 46 13,354 6 333 1981 21 7,472 7 1,109 Birkenhead TTWA 1979 16 2,826 1 86 1980 10 3,553 2 77 1981 4 5,784 1 465