Welsh Development Agency

HC Deb 21 January 1988 vol 125 cc815-6W

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total cost of the Welsh Development Agency, including grants each year since its establishment and the estimated number of jobs created in each year.

Mr. Peter Walker

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 19 January, at column612, setting out the direct subvention to the WDA since its inception.

The Welsh Development Agency contributes to the job creation process through a range of activities including the provision of factory space, investment and advice. It is not

	Per cent. Change Suggested by 1988–89 formula assessment	Per cent. Change Required as a result of 1988–89 Provisional Allocations
Clwyd	+2.5	+2.4
East Dyfed	+2.8	+2.0
Pembrokeshire	+5.2	+2.6
Gwent	+1.7	+1.8
Gwynedd	-3.1	-2.7
Mid Glamorgan	+0.2	+0.4
Powys	+0.1	-0.3
South Glamorgan	-1.4	-1.4
West Glamorgan	-3.4	-2.8

An amended version of table 17 of the formula assessment is given in the following table.

possible to quantify the full cumulative impact in terms of jobs created. Information on job opportunities provided through the agency's factory building programme is published in its annual report and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The jobs forecast for the current financial year is given in table 17.10 of the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 288).

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will direct the Welsh Development Agency to build additional new advance factories at(a) Engineer park, Sandycroft and (b) Deeside industrial park, Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Walker

No. The 30 per cent, increase in Welsh Development Agency resources announced for 1988–89 will enable it to make an early start on a wide ranging and ambitious new programme of property initiatives in conjunction with private sector and other partners. The needs and potential of north-east Wales will be recognised fully in the new programme which I plan to announce shortly.