Committee of Support for Industry in Rural Areas (Hansard, 12 February 1979)

§ Mr. Watkinson
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many small firms were assisted by the Committee of Support for Industry in Rural Areas in 1978, 1977 and 1976.
394W

Mr. Arsmtrong
the information requested is as follows:

§ Mr. Denis Howell
9,931 in 1977; 8,935 in 1976.
Information in respect of 1978 is not yet available.

§ Mr. Watkinson
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state how many persons work for the Committee of Support for Industry in Rural Areas in each of the economic regions.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
The information is as follows:

Economic planning region and persons employed

Northern … … 19

Yorkshire and Humberside … … 12

North-West … … 3

East Midlands … … 23

West Midlands … … 21

East Anglia … … 11

South-East … … 15

South-West … … 28

In addition, there are 149 headquarters staff not related to particular regions. Currently 30 posts are vacant, 20 of which are in the regions.
395W

§ Mr. Watkinson
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many small firms were assisted by the Committee of Support for Industry in Rural Areas in 1978, 1977 and 1976 in (a) the South West Region and (b) Gloucestershire.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
The information available is as follows:

Number of small firms assisted

South-West region Gloucestershire

1978 … Not yet available 268

1977 … 1,920 237

1976 … 1,691 250

§ Mr. Watkinson
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of Government grant to the Committee of Support for Industry in Rural Areas in 1978, 1977 and 1976.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
The information, which is available for financial years only, is as follows:

£million

1978–79 … … … 4.618^*

1977–78 … … … 2.957

1976–77 … … … 3.027

1975–76 … … … 2.583

(^*est)

Number of domestic hereditaments(a) (million) Domestic rate payments(b) as a percentage of personal disposable income Local authorities' expenditure(d) as a percentage of gross national expenditure

1958–59 … … … … 7.6

1963–64 … … … … 14.47 2.24 8.3

1968–69 … … … … 15.69 2.28 10.6

1972–73 … … … … 16.61 2.35 10.8

1973–74 … … … … 16.94 2.29(c) 11.3(e)

1977–78 … … … … 17.76 2.16 11.0

1978–79 … … … … 17.98 2.8

(a) As at 1 April.

(b) Net of rate rebates.

(c) At local government reorganisation in April 1974 certain services (sewerage and local health) ceased to be local authority responsibilities. For comparison with figures after April 1974 it should be noted that the percentage for 1973–74 excluding services transferred away at recorganisation would have been 2.14.

(d) Expenditure on goods and services entering into the gross national expenditure at market prices for calendar year.

(e) For comparison with figures after April 1974 it should be noted that the percentage for 1973–74 excluding services transferred away at reorganisation would have been about 10.5 per cent.

Economic planning region and persons employed
Northern	…	…	19
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	…	12
North-West	…	…	3
East Midlands	…	…	23
West Midlands	…	…	21
East Anglia	…	…	11
South-East	…	…	15
South-West	…	…	28

		Number of small firms assisted
		South-West region	Gloucestershire
1978	…	Not yet available	268
1977	…	1,920	237
1976	…	1,691	250

£million
1978–79	…	…	…	4.618^*
1977–78	…	…	…	2.957
1976–77	…	…	…	3.027
1975–76	…	…	…	2.583
(^*est)

					Number of domestic hereditaments(a) (million)	Domestic rate payments(b) as a percentage of personal disposable income	Local authorities' expenditure(d) as a percentage of gross national expenditure
1958–59	…	…	…	…			7.6
1963–64	…	…	…	…	14.47	2.24	8.3
1968–69	…	…	…	…	15.69	2.28	10.6
1972–73	…	…	…	…	16.61	2.35	10.8
1973–74	…	…	…	…	16.94	2.29(c)	11.3(e)
1977–78	…	…	…	…	17.76	2.16	11.0
1978–79	…	…	…	…	17.98	2.8
(a) As at 1 April.
(b) Net of rate rebates.
(c) At local government reorganisation in April 1974 certain services (sewerage and local health) ceased to be local authority responsibilities. For comparison with figures after April 1974 it should be noted that the percentage for 1973–74 excluding services transferred away at recorganisation would have been 2.14.
(d) Expenditure on goods and services entering into the gross national expenditure at market prices for calendar year.
(e) For comparison with figures after April 1974 it should be noted that the percentage for 1973–74 excluding services transferred away at reorganisation would have been about 10.5 per cent.