§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost to the Government of 524W the Merseyside Development Corporation in each year since its establishment, giving the percentage change in each year.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe administrative expenditure — staff and office costs — of the Merseyside Development Corporation, which has been supported by Exchequer grant, has been as follows:
Payments (£'000) Percentage change on previous year 1981–82 942 — 1982–83 915 - 3 1983–84 1,247 +36 During these years MDC—like any new body—was gearing up rapidly from its initial establishment in March 1981, and its administration costs have reduced as a percentage of the total expenditure on the projects it administers, in each of these years. The increase in 1983–84 is largely due to an assessment for corporation tax of £230,000. Total grant paid to MDC was £6.1 million in 1981–82, £20.7 million in 1982–83 and £31.8 million in 1983–84.
§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the size of the work force employed by the Merseyside Development Corporation in each year since its establishment, giving the percentage changes in each year.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe number of people employed on a permanent basis by Merseyside Development Corporation at the end of its first full year of operation (1981–82) was 43. The corresponding figure for 1982–83 was 45, representing a 5 per cent. increase, and the figure for 1983–84 was 49, representing a 9 per cent. increase over the previous year.