§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the total regional preferential expenditure by region giving the expenditure per head of population for each region for the most recent year for which figures are available.
792W
§ Mr. MacGregorGross expenditure on regional preferential assistance to industry in 1981–82 was as follows, based on standard regions:
Total Expenditure per head £ million £ North 181 58.4 North West 171 26.5 Yorkshire and Humberside 63 12.8 South West 16 3.6 East Midlands 9 2.3 Scotland 235 45.7 Wales 202 72.3 Great Britain 877 16.1 Notes:
1. The main items included are Regional Development Grants, Selective Financial Assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act, 1972 and expenditure on land and factories. Also included are assistance to tourism, mainly under the Development of Tourism Act, 1969, and by the Highland and Islands Development Board. Any payments to nationalised industries under these headings are included.
2. Expenditure per head is based on estimated total home population in each region.
3. Payments in the West Midlands have been excluded on de minimus grounds.