§ Mr. ClellandTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many inner city jobs have been created as a direct result of the activities of task forces which report directly to him; and what is the total cost of the launching and running of these task forces since they were initiated.
§ Mr. NewtonSecuring more jobs for local people is but one of the objectives for the Government's inner city task forces; other key objectives are to stimulate enterprise and to improve skills and training. The task forces have supported more than 900 projects since their inception in February 1986 and it is estimated that these have led to the creation or safeguarding of approximately 3,700 jobs in the task force areas. Up to the end of September 1988, the cost of launching and running the task forces was around £3.4 million.