§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received any response from the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Association to the recent White Paper from his Department; what action he intends to take to assist the Yorkshire and Humberside region; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsA copy of a paper by the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Association, "Implications of the current Department of Trade and Industry White Paper for Yorkshire and Humberside", was sent to me last week.
Firms in the Yorkshire and Humberside region can benefit from assistance offered under the enterprise initiative, which includes support for consultancy in the areas of design, marketing, quality, manufacturing technology, business planning and business information systems (available at a higher rate in assisted areas and urban programme areas), together with support for exports, research and technology and business education.
In the assisted areas of the region regional selective assistance is also available to support projects which would not otherwise go ahead. In development areas small firms (with fewer than 25 employees) are eligible for regional enterprise grants for investment and innovation.