HC Deb 07 December 1977 vol 940 cc777-8W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is able to estimate the cost per job created by the Highlands and Islands Development Board in the current financial year; (2) if he is able to give an estimate of the total number of jobs created by the Highlands and Islands Development Board; of these, how many have been in manufacturing; and how many in the construction industry.

Mr. Gregor MacKenzie

The Highlands and Islands Development Board estimates that the equivalent of 13,000 full-time jobs have been created by Board assistance offered to enterprises in the period 1st December 1965 to 30th September 1977. Of these 5,600 are in manufacturing industry—including fish processing—and 1,400 in the construction industry.

The Board estimates that the cost per job created, and to be created, by Board assistance approved for industrial and other enterprises to 31st October 1977 is £6,200.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total expenditure by the Highlands and Islands Development Board in the past three years on the creation of jobs in manufacturing industry, the construction industry, service industry and the fishing industry.

Mr. Gregor MacKenzie

In the three calendar years 1974–76 the Highlands and Islands Development Board approved the following expenditure on financial assistance to enterprises in the categories mentioned:

£
Manufacturing industry (including fish processing) 3,639,213
Construction industry 1,203,832
Service industry (including tourism) 6,113,932
Fishing industry 4,176,858

In this period the Board also approved expenditure of £3.3 million on schemes and projects designed to improve employment opportunities generally. It is not readily practicable to allocate this expenditure to particular industries or to estimate its effect on job creation.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to estimate the total capital expenditure which remains available to the Highlands and Islands Development Board for the remainder of the present financial year.

Mr. Gregor MacKenzie

At 1st November 1977 about £4.6 million of the approved estimate for expenditure by the Board in this financial year on projects and on financial assistance for enterprises was not committed.