§ Mr. Lambieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures showing, for each of the past 10 years, the amounts of selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 and section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 granted by his Department to businesses within Scotland and within the area covered by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, respectively, distinguishing between assistance by grant and assistance by loan.
§ Mr. YoungerThe figures for Scotland as a whole are set out in the table:
Value of Offers (£ million) Financial Years Loans Grants Total 1974–75 16.7 6.8 23.6 1975–76 11.2 16.9 28.1 1976–77 3.8 20.2 24.0 1977–78 2.6 16.3 18.8 1978–79 2.2 15.0 17.2 1979–80 — 44.7 44.7 1980–81 — 35.6 35.6 1981–82 0.5 42.0 42.5 1982–83 — 54.9 54.9 1983–84 — 63.6 63.6 Total April 1974 to March 1984 37.0 316.0 352.9 Note: Some figures shown do not add due to rounding.
Assistance for projects within the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) area is normally given by the board rather than under section 7. In the 10-year period assistance offered under section 7 for projects in the HIDB area totalled £14.7 million (£7 million in loans, £7.7 million in grants). As there are relatively few cases, figures for individual years cannot be given for reasons of confidentiality.
§ Mr. Lambieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff are employed within his Department in administering selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982; and, for the latest available full year, what are the associated staff amd administrative costs.
§ Mr. YoungerAt 1 July 1984, 54 staff were employed wholly or partly on the administration of selective598W financial assistance. The allocated staff and administrative costs were calculated at £882,000 in the financial year 1983–84.