HC Deb 19 June 1986 vol 99 cc605-6W
Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of jobs promoted by the Industrial Development Board and its predecessor, the Department of Commerce, for (a) indigenous firms and (b) overseas firms in Northern Ireland since 1978–79; how many of these jobs are the result of (i) new enterprise or (ii) expansion; and what is the average cost per job.

Dr. Boyson

The following table contains the information requested:

Jobs Promoted
Indigenous Firms Overseas Firms
Year New Expansions New Expansions Total
1978–79 357 1,204 4,165 1,364 7,090
1979–80 308 1,793 3,100 2,333 7,534

Indigenous Firms Overseas Firms Total
Year New Expansions New Expansions Total
1980–81 430 769 178 1,928 3,305
1981–82 131 381 348 815 1,675
1982–83 265 1,063 159 2,304 3,791
1983–84 715 1,191 539 1,111 3,556
1984–85 394 1,478 548 2,847 5,267
1985–86 204 1,224 224 1,258 2,910
TOTAL 2,804 9,103 9,261 13,960 35,128

The average cost per job for all indigenous and overseas jobs assisted during 1985–86 was £5,262 and £8,776 respectively. A breakdown of the cost per job between new and expansion cases could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

Mr. Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been promoted since 1978–79 by the Industrial Development Board or its predecessor the Department of Commerce in the following industrial groups: (a) engineering, (b) textiles, clothing and leather, (c) food, drink, and tobacco and (d) all other industries; and what was the average cost of each job.

Dr. Boyson

The number of new jobs promoted since 1978–79, by industrial group, is set out in the following table:

Engineering Textiles Clothing and Leather Food, Drink and Tobcacco All Other Industries Total
1978–79 4,634 1,282 144 1,030 7,090
1979–80 4,802 1,786 325 621 7,534
1980–81 1,494 1,092 264 455 3,305
1981–82 667 450 89 469 1,675
1982–83 2,368 598 567 258 3,791
1983–84 1,276 1,425 545 310 3,556
1984–85 1,615 1.286 1,309 1,057 5,267
1985–86 465 1,194 401 850 2,910
TOTAL 17,321 9,113 3,644 5,050 35,128

Information on the average cost of each job promoted could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the average cost per job for all jobs to which selective assistance was related during 1985–86 was £7,063.