§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Paymaster General how many jobs have been created within (a) the city of Leicester and (b) Leicester, East constituency since the introduction of the enterprise allowance scheme.
§ Mr. TrippierThe enterprise allowance scheme is designed to help unemployed people who wish to set up in business but are deterred from doing so because they would lose their income from unemployment or supplementary benefit. The figures are not available in the form requested. Since the scheme was introduced nationally in August 1983 up to the 10 December 1986, 2,587 people have joined in the Leicester area which includes the city of Leicester. Recent survey information shows that 61 per cent. of those who take advantage of a full year's support under the scheme are still trading in their enterprise allowance scheme business three years after start-up. For every 100 self-employed people continuing in business at this stage, survey evidence indicates that 99 additional people have been taken on as employees.