§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total regional assistance to industry per head of employees in the assisted areas in England for the latest available year.
§ Mr. CryerThe following is the information
Total estimated gross expenditure on regional assistance to industry in the English Assisted Areas in the 1976–77 financial year—£388.5 million.Total number of employees in the English Assisted Areas—mid-1976 estimate—6.8 million.Expenditure per employee in the English Assisted Areas in the 1976–77 financial year— £57.1.The expenditure figure is at out-turn prices and includes payments of regional assistance to nationalised industries. The major items are regional development grants, selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972, Local Employment Act assistance, regional employment premium, and the investment grant differential—estimated—in favour of the assisted areas.