§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make an estimate of the effect which the establishment of the National Enterprise Board will have on unemployment in the North-East region.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe NEB is particularly concerned to establish undertakings with long-term growth potential in areas of high unemployment. The NEB's Newcastle office is hard at work in identifying suitable opportunities which will supplement the jobs that NEB companies already provide in the region.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies in the North-East region qualified for removal grants since 1974 to the latest available date.
Mr. Alan WilliamsBetween 1st January 1974 and 31st October 1976 offers 55W of removal grants totalling £2,692,000 were made under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in respect of 66 projects moving to the Northern Region from outside the assisted areas.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many industrial firms in the North-East applied to his Department for financial assistance in 1974, 1975 and to the latest available date.
Mr. Alan WilliamsApplications for selective financial assistance under Sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 in respect of projects located in the Northern Region have been received as follows:
Number 1974 317 1975 219 1976 to 31st October 1976 207
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the organisations directly or indirectly responsible to, or financed by his Department, now concerned with industrial development and industrial promotion in the North-East region; and what was the amount of Government finance allocated in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe North of England Development Council, which received a grant in aid of £40,000 in 1973–74, £100,000 in 1974–75, and £106,600 in 1975–76.