§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount of money spent on regional employment premium in each of the economic regions of Great Britain in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. GoldingRegional employment premium is paid in respect of establishments in development areas only. The estimated amounts which will have been paid during the financial year 1976–77 are:
Development Area million Northern … … … 64 Merseyside … … … 37 South West … … … 5 Wales … … … 32 Scotland … … … 79
§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of firms receiving regional employment premium in the last year for which figures are available had received the assistance for more than one year.
§ Mr. GoldingThe total number of firms receiving regional employment premium is not available. Employers were required to register each individual establishment for receipt of this assistance. At the end of 1976 about 93 per cent. of the registered establishments had been receiving REP for more than a year.