HC Deb 10 December 1964 vol 703 cc207-8W
24. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much assistance was given to Scotland under the Local Employment Acts in each year since 1961; and what percentage of the national total this assistance represented in each of these years.

Mr. Jay

The total assistance including factory building offered under the Local Employment Acts for projects in development districts in Scotland amounted to £19.7 million, £5 million and £14.4 million in the financial years 1961–62, 1962–63, and 1963–64, respectively. These sums represented 79.9 per cent., 31.3 per cent. and 47.7 per cent. of the total assistance offered for Great Britain in the same years.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the number of new jobs promised by Scottish companies in receipt of financial assistance under the Local Employment Acts 1960 and 1963 to date.

Mr. Jay

It is estimated that projects in Scotland for which offers of assistance, including Board of Trade factories, were made up to the 31st October, 1964, excluding offers declined, will in due course provide over 63,000 new jobs.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total sum paid to Scottish companies under the Local Employment Acts 1960 and 1963 to date.

Mr. Jay

Up to 31st October, 1964, assistance offered under the Local Employment Acts for projects in Scotland, excluding offers declined, amounted to £63.1 million. The total sum paid up to that date, including payments in respect of assistance offered under the Distribution of Industry Acts, amounted to £48.8 million.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the number of jobs actually created by Scottish companies in receipt of financial assistance under the Local Employment Acts, 1960 and 1963, to date.

Mr. Jay

A sample inquiry at the end of June, 1964, related to projects in Scotland for which Local Employment Act assistance of £50,000 or more had been accepted by the 31st December, 1963, showed that these projects had up to that date provided 15,890 jobs against an estimate of 23,232 jobs when recruitment is complete. A further inquiry related to a larger sample is in hand.