Earl of Dalkeithasked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs in Edinburgh and Scotland, respectively, have so far been estimated to have been placed in jeopardy as a result of Edinburgh's exclusion from the Investment Incentive Scheme, which is available to the whole of the rest of Scotland and the north of England.
§ Mr. JayI have made no such estimates. A few firms have come to my notice, however, which have transferred work from Edinburgh to other areas in Scotland in greater need of employment. Firms in Edinburgh and Leith receive, of course, the normal investment grants payable in Great Britain as a whole outside Development Areas.
Earl of Dalkeithasked the President of the Board of Trade what is his latest estimate of the number of potential new jobs arising from industries which have indicated their desire to settle in the hinterland and reclaimed areas of Leith Docks, since the original announcement excluding Edinburgh from the Investment Incentive Scheme; and how many he estimates have been lost to this area through industry being repelled by the effects of exclusion.
§ Mr. JaySince January 1966, industrial development certificates have been issued for three new projects in the Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello area which, according to estimates made by the firms, will employ about 70 people. In addition, Ferranti Ltd. have announced that they intend to take over existing premises in the area to provide an additional 1,000 jobs.