§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of(a) the total amount of regional selective assistance paid out by his Department since its introduction and (b) the average sum granted for each project; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerExpenditure on regional selective assistance' in Wales from the inception of the scheme to 31 March 1989 was £306 million. The average grant value2 was almost £200,000.
1The expenditure quoted comprises payments of grants and loans (until 1979–80) under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982, exchange risk losses on European loans (since 1981–82) and payments under the in-plant training scheme (since 1984–85) and the business improvement services scheme (since 1983–84).
1 Based on the cumulative number and value of offers of section 7 assistance accepted to 31 March 1989 published in appendix 6, table 3 of the Industrial Development Act annual report for 1988–89.