§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed by the small firms employment subsidy throughout the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingA total of 8,587 extra jobs have been supported by the experimental small firms employment subsidy scheme which was available in the special 821W development areas only during the period 1st January 1977 to 30th June 1978.
The enlarged scheme, which is open to eligible manufacturing firms in the assisted areas and inner city partnership areas of the country—which includes Calderdale, West Yorkshire—was introduced on 1st July 1978. As claims for subsidy are made at the end of each period of four weeks in arrears, no figures are yet available of the number of extra jobs provided under this scheme.