§ Mr. Kilroy-Silk asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many of the companies to which space has been let on the Merseyside enterprise zone have moved five miles or less to occupy such space;
§ (2) how many companies have so far taken leases in the Merseyside enterprise zone; and how many of these have moved five miles or less to do so.
§ Mr. King:One aim in enterprise zones is to keep detailed inquiries to firms that would be required to answer these questions to a minimum. We have, however, appointed consultants to monitor the development of the enterprise zones. They will be reporting next year, and this should help provide the answers to questions such as these.
Mr. Kilroy-Silk asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are employed in the area of the Merseyside enterprise zone; and how many of these were employed there before the area became an enterprise zone.
§ Mr. King:There were about 400 people employed in the Speke enterprise zone at designation on 25 August. There is no information about changes since then.
Mr. Kilroy-Silk asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inquiries have been made about the leasing of land or space in the Merseyside enterprise zone; and how many of such inquiries came from companies on Merseyside.
§ Mr. Heseltine:I am writing to the hon. Member.