HL Deb 30 March 1988 vol 495 cc854-5WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What central government resources in (a) constant-terms money and (b) officials' time, were devoted in (a) 1964–70 and (b) 1980–86, to encouraging private sector capital investment in the northern part of Britain; and what central government resources in (a) constant-terms money and (b) officials' time, were devoted in (a) 1964–70 and (b) 1980–86, to public sector investment in the northern half of Britain.

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Lord Young of Graffham)

I regret that this information is not available and could only be provided with disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

However, I can tell the noble Lord that the gross domestic fixed capital formation by central government and local authorities in the north of Britain at then current prices was: (£ million)

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
2,046 1,809 1,756 2,258 2,523 2,757

Notes:

  1. (i) Gross domestic fixed capital formation expenditure on acquisition of fixed assets less sales of fixed assets.
  2. (ii) North of Britain is defined here as Scotland and these standard economic planning regions: North, North West and Yorkshire and Humberside.
  3. (iii) Gross domestic fixed capital formation regional data for 1986 are to be published in November 1988.