§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average cost of each job created in the following Government programmes:(a) enterprise zones, (b) the business expansion scheme, (c) urban development corporation and (d) regional selective assistance.
§ Mr. MajorThese programmes are part of the Government's wider policy of helping markets to work more effectively. That policy, combined with the sound macro-economic policies we have pursued has secured great success, helping to generate 1.25 million new jobs in the United Kingdom since 1983. Adult unemployment (seasonally adjusted) has fallen for 16 months in succession.
Cost per job is one of a number of measures used in assessing programmes which are aimed at job creation. Where relevant and available, information is given in the public expenditure White Paper. Questions on such measures in relation to individual schemes are a matter for the Secretary of State responsible for them. No current information on cost per job is available for the business expansion scheme.