HC Deb 29 January 1976 vol 904 cc340-1W
Mr. Pardoe

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will state the number of new jobs created by regional aid and the number of new jobs created by regional aid per 1,000 employees in each development area in each year since 1966–67.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

Information is not available in precisely the form requested. Details of additional employment expected to arise in the assisted areas of Great Britain from projects assisted under the Local Employment Acts and in the economic planning regions under Section 7 of the Industry Act, 1972, for the years 1966–67 to 1974–75, are given in the Tables 1 and 2 below.

TABLE 2
EMPLOYMENT ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECTS OFFERED ASSISTANCE UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE INDUSTRY ACT
('000s)
Financial Year
1972–73 1973–74 1974–75
Scotland 3 16 15
Wales 2 11 13
Northern Region 3 15 9
Yorkshire and Humberside Region 1 12 8
South West Region 1 2 1
North West Region 2 15 9
East Midlands 1 2
Total 12 72 58

These tables do not give a full account of the direct job-creation effects of regional aids to industry as the major instruments (Regional Development Grant and Regional Employment Premium) are payable without any condition as the creation of employment. As a result it would be misleading to relate the number of new jobs arising from projects assisted under the Local Employment Acts and the Industry Act 1972 to the numbers of employees in each development or intermediate area.