HC Deb 06 August 1976 vol 916 cc1116-7W
Mr. Anthony Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will set out the present criteria for determining whether an area enjoys assisted or non-assisted status.

Mr. Alan Williams

The criteria are those prescribed in Section 1 of the Local Employment Act 1972 as amended, and in Section 1(4) of the Industry Act 1972.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many new jobs he expects to be created in each of the assisted and non-assisted areas in the next 12 months as a result of regional aid; and what ratio of new jobs this represents per registered unemployed person in the area concerned.

Mr. Alan Williams

Information is not available in precisely the form requested. Additional employment in manufacturing as a result of offers of selective financial assistance is expected to arise within four years from the offer being made; estimates of the number of jobs in the assisted areas of each region as a result of offers so far made are shown in the table below. In addition,

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT EXPECTED TO ARISE IN THE ASSISTED AREAS AS A RESULT OF OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE INDUSTRY ACT
1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76
Scotland … … … 2,596 16,124 14,706 14,143
Wales … … … 1,675 10,970 11,991 6,347
North … … … 3,240 14,600 9,020 6,570
North-West … … … 1,399 13,472 9,661 9,117
Yorkshire and Humberside … … … 835 11,784 8,170 4,637
South-West* … … … 686 1,739 1,344 1,356
East Midlands* … … … 397 1,466 1,734 1,988
West Midlands* … … … — — 34 60
* Assisted Areas only.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will estimate the costs of all types of regional development incentives available each year in each assisted area, respectively, in total aid per unemployed person in that area since 1964–65;

(2) if he will tabulate for each year from 1966 to date the value of the total regional aid at current prices and the amount of regional aid paid to firms operating in the North West, in Wales and in Scotland at current prices.

Mr. Alan Williams

In the time available it has not been possible to determine whether the information is available in the form requested. I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.