Regional Aid (Hansard, 7 March 1977)

§ 27. Mr. John H. Osborn
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table showing the value of grants given to each regional development association, and in total, for job promotion and the provision of employment opportunities, relating this to the level of unemployment and indicating where he is dissatisfied with disparities.

§ Mr. Cryer
Grants in aid are paid to regional development associations to support promotional activities in respect of assisted areas. Figures are:

Region Grant aid 1977–78 Development Area unemployment^* Unemployment in the region as a whole^*

£

North 250,000 105,743 105,743

North-West 135,000 82,969 205,360

Yorkshire 30,000 5,015 115,126

^* Provisional figures for January 1977.

§ Mr. Hall-Davis
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the value of new buildings, works and adaptations, and the value of new machinery, plant and mining works, respectively, qualifying for regional development grant in the North-West Region for each of the last five 12-month periods for which figures are available; and what are the same figures subdivided as to special development, development and intermediate areas.

§ Mr. Cryer
The amounts of eligible expenditure in the North-West Region on which regional development grants were paid in the four financial years 1972–73 to 1975–76, and in the nine months April-December 1976, are as follows:
373W

(£'000)

Plant and Machinery Building and Works

Period Special Development Area Development Area Total Special Development Area Development Area Intermediate Area Total Total Plant And Machinery Building and Works

1972–73 … … Nil 1,020 1,020 Nil 35 350 385 1,405

1973–74 … … Nil 55,880 55,880 Nil 6,180 18,360 24,540 80,420

1974–75 … … 17,268 125,335 142,603 3,977 13,650 41,325 58,952 201,555

1975–76 … … 91,336 53,675 145,011 18,304 7,900 57,355 83,559 228,570

9 months April-December 1976 … … 103,418 18,355 121,773 24,209 2,735 43,615 70,559 192,332

Total … … 212,022 254,265 466,287 46,490 30,500 161,005 237,995 704,282

Expenditure Prior to 22nd March 1972 is not eligible for grant.

Applications for grant cover widely varying periods of expenditure, so that grant payments made reflect expenditure in the relevant financial year as well as expenditure in previous years. No statistics are maintained, by standard region, of the actual periods in which the expenditure is incurred. Merseyside was upgraded from DA to SDA status in August 1974.

Region	Grant aid 1977–78	Development Area unemployment^*	Unemployment in the region as a whole^*
	£
North	250,000	105,743	105,743
North-West	135,000	82,969	205,360
Yorkshire	30,000	5,015	115,126
^* Provisional figures for January 1977.

(£'000)
			Plant and Machinery		Building and Works
Period	Special Development Area	Development Area	Total	Special Development Area	Development Area	Intermediate Area	Total	Total Plant And Machinery Building and Works
1972–73	…	…	Nil	1,020	1,020	Nil	35	350	385	1,405
1973–74	…	…	Nil	55,880	55,880	Nil	6,180	18,360	24,540	80,420
1974–75	…	…	17,268	125,335	142,603	3,977	13,650	41,325	58,952	201,555
1975–76	…	…	91,336	53,675	145,011	18,304	7,900	57,355	83,559	228,570
9 months April-December 1976	…	…	103,418	18,355	121,773	24,209	2,735	43,615	70,559	192,332
Total	…	…	212,022	254,265	466,287	46,490	30,500	161,005	237,995	704,282
Expenditure Prior to 22nd March 1972 is not eligible for grant.
Applications for grant cover widely varying periods of expenditure, so that grant payments made reflect expenditure in the relevant financial year as well as expenditure in previous years. No statistics are maintained, by standard region, of the actual periods in which the expenditure is incurred. Merseyside was upgraded from DA to SDA status in August 1974.