§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the ways in which financial help is given to firms because of their regional location; and if he will give, for the last period for which figures are available, the amounts given under each of the headings to (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the west midlands, (c) Staffordshire and (d) Stoke-on-Trent, giving as well as the totals the amounts per head in each of the specified areas, and the amounts per unemployed person.
§ Mr. TrippierRegional industrial policy includes two schemes under which financial assistance is available to firms in the assisted areas; regional development grants (RDGs) available only on special development areas (SDAs) and development areas (DAs); and regional16W selective assistance (RSA) available throughout the assisted areas. Different schemes apply in Northern Ireland. In the year ending 31 March 1984, the total amount of RDG paid was £438.9 million which represents £85 per member of the working population in the SDAs and DAs and £497 per unemployed person in these areas. In the same period, the total amount of RSA paid was £"82.4 million, which represents £13 per member of the working population in the assisted areas and £76 per unemployed person in these areas. As no part of the west midlands was an assisted area during 1983–84, firms in the region were not eligible for regional financial assistance.