§ Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1977, Official Report, column 777, he will give the latest estimates for the current financial year of (a) the cost per job created by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, (b) the total number of jobs created, (c) the total expenditure by the board on the creation of jobs in manufacturing, construction, services and 468W fishing and (d) total approved unallocatable expenditure.
§ Mr. Gregor MacKenzieIn the 11 months from 1 April 1978, the Highlands and Islands Development Board approved the following expenditure on financial assistance to enterprises in the categories mentioned:—
£ Manufacturing industry 2,992,203 Construction industry 995,929 Service Industry—including tourism 4,001,093 Fisheries 3,167,194 Agriculture 1,262,066 Total £12,418,485 The board estimates that the equivalent of 1,589 full-time jobs have been or will be created by the enterprises assisted, at a cost per job of £7,815.
The board estimates that it will incur expenditure of about £3.45 million in the current financial year 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.