HC Deb 23 April 2001 vol 367 cc1-2W
Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Cannock Chase constituency, the effects on Cannock Chase of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158064]

Mr. Caborn

In the period in question, the following offers of assistance have been made to businesses in the Cannock Chase local authority district.

  1. (1) Six offers of Regional Selective Assistance totalling £244,000. These offers have brought forward fixed capital investment of £2.48 million for projects which will create 80 jobs.
  2. (2) Three offers of Enterprise Grant have been made since the scheme was introduced on 1 March 2000. These offers involve grant of £124,000 and fixed capital investment of £889,500.
    3. 2W
  3. (3) An offer of £45,000 assistance under the Smart (innovation grant) scheme towards a feasibility project involving total costs of £87,453.
  4. (4) 919 businesses have been assisted by Business Link Staffordshire—75 having received advice from the International Trade Team, of these over 30 have commissioned reports via British Embassies and Consulates in order to obtain tailored information to assist in the development of overseas business. Eight companies have benefited from direct financial support under the Export Voucher Scheme which provides them with a contribution towards using professional outside support in aspects of overseas trade. In addition 20 companies regularly use the Export Documentation Service from the Chamber of Commerce.

The DTI-funded West Midlands Regional Supply Office (RSO) has assisted 128 companies in the Cannock Chase area since 1997. The RSO is now incorporated into the RDA, Advantage West Midlands.

The Inward Investment Directorate of Advantage West Midlands reports the following: since 1997 there have been 14 investments into the Cannock Chase local authority area, creating 306 new jobs and safeguarding a further 2,359; there have been two inward investments this year safeguarding 294 jobs; in total there are 25 overseas owned companies in Cannock Chase employing 2,886.