HC Deb 17 February 1982 vol 18 c146W
Mr. Concannon

asked. the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report the number of new factories which have opened in the Province since January 1980, and the number of persons currently employed in those factories.

Mr. Adam Butler

Since 1 January 1980 the number of new manufacturing undertakings which have ben established in Northern Ireland with selective financial assistance from the Department of Commerce totals 32. At 31 December 1981 these undertakings employed 5,:128 people. I regret that the corresponding totals in respect of new companies formed either with financial assistance from the local enterprise development unit or without assistance from Government could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.