HC Deb 26 June 1979 vol 969 cc136-8W
Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of applications and people covered, regionally and nationally, under the small firms employment subsidy; and if further applications can be made.

Mr. Jim Lester

On 31 May 1979, the numbers of applications approved and extra jobs supported regionally and nationally under the small firms employment subsidy scheme were as follows:

Region Approved applications Jobs currently supported
South-East 2,820 5,500
East Anglia 265 400
South-West 1,127 2,000
West Midlands 1,496 3,300
East Midlands 764 3,300
Yorkshire and Humberside 2,080 6,600
North-West 3,439 10,300
North 2,241 6,100
Wales 1,975 5,800
Scotland 2,713 7,200
Great Britain 18,920 50,500

Applications can be made by small manufacturing firms throughout Great Britain and small non-manufacturing firms in special development areas, development areas and inner city partnership areas up to 30 June 1979. From 1 July 1979 the scheme will be available

Region Projects applications Projects approved Places approved
Scotland 174 140 871
Northern 137 94 669
Yorkshire and Humberside 91 69 302
North-West 77 72 529
Midlands 179 198 1,113
Wales 83 85 486
South-West 91 52 279
London 35 20 135
South-East 58 38 203
Great Britain 925 768 4,587

STEP began on 1 April 1978. The following table shows the cumulative totals since that date to end May of

Region Projects approved Places approved Estimated number of entrants
Scotland 607 4,817 3,187
Northern 592 5,005 4,015
Yorkshire and Humberside 457 2,035 2,318
North-West 619 6,692 4,344
Midlands 699 4,969 4,143
Wales 269 2,130 1,294
South-West 296 1,738 1,374
London 119 1,207 829
South-East 221 1,362 1,344
Great Britain 3,879 29,955 22,848

Following the recent review of expenditure STEP will be concentrated in areas of greatest need. Projects will be restricted to special development areas, development areas and partnership, programme and other district authorities designated under the inner urban areas

to small manufacturing firms in special development areas and development areas only. The scheme is due to close for applications on 31 March 1980.