Regional Aid (Hansard, 17 November 1987)

§ Mr. Cousins
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will express the total payments made in each regional area as a percentage of the total payments nationally under the following provisions(a) parts I, II, III of the Industrial Development Act 1982 and parts I(2) and II of the Industry Act 1972, (b) regional development grants (old scheme), (c) regional development grants (new scheme), (d) selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982, (e) assistance under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982, (f) the small firms loan guarantee scheme, (g) support for advanced manufacturing project planning and implementation, (h) investment support for microelectronics 1, (i) investment support for fibre optics and optoelectronics, (j) support for implementing quality assistance schemes, (k) coal fining scheme, (l) selective investment scheme, (m) innovation-linked investment scheme, (n) investment support for micro-electronics 2 and (o) assistance to local enterprise agencies.

§ Mr. Maude
The following table shows the percentages requested based on payments figures as shown in the relevant appendices to the annual report of the Industrial Development Act 1982 for the year ended 31 March 1987. An asterisk denotes that the item in question is no longer the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry.
471W

Scotland Wales North East Yorkshire and Humber-side East Midlands South East South Wst West Midlands North West

Support for advanced manufacturing project planning and implementation 4.3 0.7 3.9 8.5 4.9 20.0 12.8 26.5 18.4

Investment support for microelectronics 1 5.4 0.2 0.2 — 18.2 23.1 14.7 0.8 27.4

Investment support for fibre optics and opto-electronics — — — 6.7 10.0 56.7 26.6 — —

Support for implementing quality assistance schemes 5.9 — 5.9 11.8 11.8 29.3 5.9 17.6 11.8

Coal firing scheme^* 6.8 3.0 10.9 7.6 5.7 29.7 2.7 4.3 29.3

Selective investment scheme 18.0 18.6 2.7 4.3 9.8 8.3 3.6 13.5 20.6

Innovation-linked investment scheme 7.7 — — 15.4 — 46.1 15.4 7.7 7.7

Investment support for microelectronics 2 3.4 — — — — 45.2 24.0 0.7 26.7

Assistance to local enterprise agencies^* — — 8.7 8.7 13.0 30.5 8.7 8.7 21.7

§ Mr. Cryer
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many applications have been made for regional selective assistance in 1987 to the most recent practicable date; how many applications were made in 1986; what is the number of staff dealing with applications and what was the number in 1986; what was the average time taken to deal with an application in 1986 and 1987; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Atkins
[holding answer 16 November 1987]: The information requested for regional selective assistance project grants in England is as follows:

1986 ¹1987

Number of applications 1,659 1,337

Number of staff² 131 106

Average processing time on applications³ 8.9 8.8

¹ To end-September.

² Approximate man-years on inquiry and appraisal work (1987 figure is an estimate).

³ Average number of weeks between application (whenever received) and decision (offer, rejection or withdrawal) for decisions taken in the period shown.

§ Mr. Cryer
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many grants of regional selective assistance were awarded each to Shell, ICI, Hanson Industries, Lucas Industries, GKN and Esso, in 1986 and 1987 to the most recent practicable date; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Atkins
[holding answer 16 November 1987]: I am unable to provide this information. Whilst offers of regional selective assistance are published in British Business in the quarter after the first payment is made, information on the number of such offers made to each of the companies listed and all their subsidiaries could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Moreover, for reasons of commercial confidentiality, information could be provided only about offers which have already been published in British Business. The dates of the 1986 and 1987 issues in which such data have been published are :

28 February 1986

6 June 1986

26 September 1986

28 November 1986

27 March 1987

19 June 1987

28 August 1987

	Scotland	Wales	North East	Yorkshire and Humber-side	East Midlands	South East	South Wst	West Midlands	North West
Support for advanced manufacturing project planning and implementation	4.3	0.7	3.9	8.5	4.9	20.0	12.8	26.5	18.4
Investment support for microelectronics 1	5.4	0.2	0.2	—	18.2	23.1	14.7	0.8	27.4
Investment support for fibre optics and opto-electronics	—	—	—	6.7	10.0	56.7	26.6	—	—
Support for implementing quality assistance schemes	5.9	—	5.9	11.8	11.8	29.3	5.9	17.6	11.8
Coal firing scheme^*	6.8	3.0	10.9	7.6	5.7	29.7	2.7	4.3	29.3
Selective investment scheme	18.0	18.6	2.7	4.3	9.8	8.3	3.6	13.5	20.6
Innovation-linked investment scheme	7.7	—	—	15.4	—	46.1	15.4	7.7	7.7
Investment support for microelectronics 2	3.4	—	—	—	—	45.2	24.0	0.7	26.7
Assistance to local enterprise agencies^*	—	—	8.7	8.7	13.0	30.5	8.7	8.7	21.7

	1986	¹1987
Number of applications	1,659	1,337
Number of staff²	131	106
Average processing time on applications³	8.9	8.8
¹ To end-September.
² Approximate man-years on inquiry and appraisal work (1987 figure is an estimate).
³ Average number of weeks between application (whenever received) and decision (offer, rejection or withdrawal) for decisions taken in the period shown.