§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he envisages the changes in the Government's regional industrial policy will affect Merseyside over the next three years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Trippier[pursuant to the reply, 3 December]: The changes in regional policy announced on 28 November are intended to relate grants more closely to job creation and to concentrate resources on those areas with the most severe problems. They are thus aimed at improving the long-term employment opportunities in areas such as Merseyside, which will continue to enjoy the highest category of regional assistance.
£'000 1983–84 1984–85* EOAs (parts of which are in Knowsley) RDG: total of payments of over £25,000 Selective Financial Assistance Offers RDG: total of payments of over £25,000 Selective Financial Assistance Offers Kirkby 4,000 1,687 1,855 325 Widnes 2,659 932 915 36 Huyton 244 1,058 134 28 Prescot 1,011 245 * To 30 September 1984. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of regional development grant expenditure and of selective financial assistance offers for 1985–86 and 1986–87 in respect of these areas.
Under the new map of assisted areas, Knowsley is a development area. Eligible projects undertaken in Knowsley will therefore be eligible for grant under the new RDG scheme. Selective assistance will also be available for projects which create jobs or which protect existing employment, but which otherwise may not go ahead. Payments of RDG will also continue to be made under the transitional arrangements relating to the old RDG scheme. Information about other financial aid to industry in Knowsley from central Government or direct from the EC Commission is not available.