§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will estimate the amount of expenditure on the businesss innovation grant scheme to be paid out in Scotland for each year 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91;
(2) if he will estimate the amount of expenditure on the business innovation grant scheme to be paid out in each of the standard English regions and Wales for each year 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91;
297W(3) if he will estimate the amount of expenditure on the business investment grant to be paid out in each of the standard English regions and Wales for each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe new grants for small firms employing fewer than 25 to help finance investment and innovation projects will be available from 1 April in the development areas (DAs) of Great Britain. My Department is responsible for expenditure on investment projects in English DAs and for expenditure on innovation projects in DAs in England, Scotland and Wales. The public expenditure White Paper includes provision of £14 million in 1988–89, £42 million in 1989–90 and £55 million in 1990–91 for DTI expenditure on new incentives for the development areas which form part of the enterprise initiative. The provision for Wales is contained within the Welsh Office expenditure plans for industry, energy, trade and employment, which are £194 million for 1988–89, £180 million for 1989–90 and £180 million for 1990–91.
The amount of expenditure which will be paid out in any particular area will depend on demand for the scheme and the appraisal of individual applications.