§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses have been helped by each regional development agency; what the average sum of money received by these businesses is; how many of the businesses helped are still operating; and how many of these businesses have increased their profitability. [148189]
§ Jacqui SmithEngland's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) help businesses both directly and indirectly through a range of activities and programmes including skills development, upgrading infrastructure and improving business competitiveness of the region in general.
Information on how many businesses have been helped, the average sum of money received, how many are still operating, and how many have increased their profitability, is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The number of businesses added to the regional economy as a direct result of RDA activity is available for financial year 2002–03 and is broken down by