§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support has been given to benefit manufacturing companies in Shrewsbury and Atcham since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [154648]
§ Mr. CabornShrewsbury and Atcham is outside the Assisted Area so the main DTI financial support schemes such as Regional Selective Assistance and Regional Enterprise Grants are not available to manufacturing businesses in this area.
However, manufacturing businesses in the Shrewsbury area are able to benefit from assistance available from the Training and Enterprise Council, the Business Link and other DTI schemes such as the Teaching Company Scheme. Unfortunately, it ha not been possible in the time available to quantify the extent to which manufacturing businesses in the area will have taken advantage of assistance available from these other support mechanisms.