§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the financial share for Wales of the increase in funds for the enterprise allowance scheme; how many enterprise allowances are currently taken up in Wales; and what is his estimate of the number for 1985.
§ Mr. John Stradling ThomasAt the beginning of April 1984 some 40 places a week were available in Wales and this was increased to about 65 a week in May. Next year the planned weekly rate is about 80. It is not possible to give a precise expenditure figure since expenditure depends upon the pattern of take-up, but we would expect that the share in Wales of the total expenditure allocation would be of the order of 6 per cent. At the end of October 1984, just over 2,500 people in Wales were receiving allowances under the scheme and we expect a total of about 4,000 entrants in 1985–86.