§ Dr. LadymanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many grants of regional selective assistance were made in Northern Ireland in 1997; how many were made at the maximum level; what was the average level; and how many jobs she estimates were created. [32554]
§ Mr. IngramThe Industrial Development Board (IDB) made 91 offers of Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) with the potential of promoting 6,005 new jobs and safeguarding a further 5,577 jobs in the financial year 1996/97. The average amount of assistance offered per project was £1.74m representing an average contribution of 25% towards total project costs.
The Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU) made 3,774 offers of assistance to 2,652 small businesses in the financial year 1996/97. The average amount of assistance offered per project was £10,678 representing an average contribution of 19% towards project costs. In 1997 LEDU's net job creations after contractions and closures was 3,525.
There is no absolute maximum level of assistance; each case is judged on its merits.