§ Mr. John Marshallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the amount of money raised under the business expansion scheme; how many companies have succeeded in raising finance under the scheme; and what estimates there are of the number of jobs these companies will create.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe available information is as follows :
Number of companies Amount invested £ million 1983–84 715 105 1984–85 807 148 1985–861 670 157 1 Returns received so far. Final results for 1985–86 are expected to show a slight increase on those quoted above. Data for 1986–87 are not yet to hand. Information on the number of new jobs created as a result of investment under the scheme is not available.