§ 81. Mr. Thurnhamasked the Paymaster General what assistance his Department has given to local enterprise agencies.
§ Mr. TrippierThe main support for local enterprise agencies must rest with the private sector in partnership with other local interests. However, my Department is encouraging the private sector in this role through the local enterprise agency grant scheme. The scheme came into operation on 1 April this year and superseded a modest pump-priming grant scheme that my Department took over from the Department of Trade and Industry. Additionally, limited financial support is also being provided under my Department's inner cities initiative. That support, together with that provided under the aforementioned past and current grant schemes, is expected to amount to approximately £3 million by the end of the financial year.