§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of new jobs created in the special development areas, the development areas, and the intermediate areas since March 1974, and the average cost per job to public funds in each case, expressed as a percentage of the cost of unemployment benefit paid to those people unemployed in the same areas for the same period.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI have been asked to reply.
Between 1st April 1974 and 30th September 1975 regional selective assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 was offered in respect of the following projects giving rise to new employment:
Projects Estimated new employment created Average cost per job £ S.D.A. 409 36,000 3,515 D.A. 338 27,000 2,762 I.A. 510 33,000 2,167 Additional new jobs in these areas have also been created in Government and local authority services; in industrial projects qualifying for regional development grants under the Industry Act, and in new and expanding service industry projects located in the assisted areas. Estimates of the number of new jobs arising from these sources are not readily available. Nor is information on the amount of unemployment benefits paid in the assisted areas.