§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the nature and amount of Government grants which have been made to companies on Merseyside since October 1974; and what steps the Government are taking to recover the sums so granted.
§ Mr. GoldingIt is estimated that some £19.5 million has been paid to employers in the Merseyside special development area through the special employment measures administered by my Department. The total is made up as follows:
Temporary employment subsidy 17,000,000 Recruitment subsidy for school leavers 213,000 Youth employment subsidy 796,000 Small firms employment subsidy 1,379,000 Short time working compensation scheme 35,000 Adult employment subsidy 55,000 In addition, since 1975 the Government have made funds available, which are channelled through the Manpower Services Commission, for special training measures to maintain levels of apprentice recruitment in industry. Analysis of the funds below national level is not available.
None of the sums paid are recoverable.
These figures do not include grants which have been made to employers in the Merseyside special development area by other Government Departments.