§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many individuals on Anglesey have benefited from the enterprise allowance scheme ssince its beginning; how 162W many have remained working at the conclusion of the scheme; how many places have been made available; how long is the current waiting period between application and entry on the scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsSince its national launch in August 1983, 283 people have entered the enterprise allowance scheme on Anglesey. Separate information for individual areas is not available but a national survey of participants on the EAS pilot project indicated that 61 per cent. of those completing one year on the scheme were still trading two years later. In north Wales the number of places available is to increase from 1,196 to 1,490 in April this year. There are no waiting lists for entry on to the scheme in Anglesey but counselling and the evaluation of applicants typically takes between two and five weeks. This is a highly successful scheme which forms an important part of our programme to encourage the growth of new employment opportunities.