HC Deb 22 March 1993 vol 221 cc483-4W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement on how far the working group on United Kingdom continental shelf competitiveness took account of the southern North sea and Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth activities in preparing its February 1993 report;

(2) if he will make it his policy to commission a special report into the United Kingdom continental shelf competitiveness, southern North sea sector, with special reference to the activities and the future economic base of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

Mr. Eggar

I asked the working group to consider ways of improving the competitiveness of the United Kingdom continental shelf in relation to worldwide oil and gas activities. The group was not asked to concentrate on any areas of the United Kingdom and its conclusions and recommendations will be of benefit to all parts of the offshore industry.

Mr. Colin Shepherd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for grant aid under the facility provided by the intermediate area status of the Ross-on-Wye and Cinderford travel-to-work area were made in each year since its inception; how many of these were successful; what is his estimate of the additional number of people employed as a consequence; and what is the number of these currently in post.

Mr. Sainsbury

Since the Cinderford and Ross-on-Wye travel-to-work area was granted assisted area status in 1984, the number of applications for regional selective assistance received, the number approved and the number of jobs expected to be created and/or safeguarded as a result of approved projects has been as follows:

Year Applications received Offers Created jobs Safeguarded jobs
1984 0 0 0 0
1985 14 10 256 291
1986 7 10 430 148
1987 10 8 96 0
1988 16 12 172 29
1989 17 10 293 454
1990 12 7 149 32
1991 17 14 104 7
1992 11 8 66 18
11993 2 1 3 1
Totals 106 80 1,569 980
1To date.

It is not possible to say how many jobs have been maintained without contacting the companies involved. This would involve disproportionate cost.