§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many additional staff have been employed in the local enterprise agency network since 14 June 1988 in the valleys initiative area.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThere are 10 approved local enterprise agencies operating partly or wholly within the programme for the valleys area. Since 14 June 1988, a total of seven additional staff have been recruited by these agencies.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional finance has been given to the local enterprise agency network since 14 June 1988 in the valleys initiative area.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe 10 local enterprise agencies which operate within the programme for the valleys boundary will receive within the financial year 1988–89 funding of £220,000 (through the Welsh Development Agency, Mid Wales Development and the urban programme) with an additional £45,000 of urban programme funding provided for specific projects with which the agencies are involved. My Department is also providing additional funding of £9,100 to assist agencies in establishing new services for small businesses. These figures relate to the whole financial year; it is not possible to provide part figures from 14 June 1988. No enterprise agencies existed during the previous Labour Government in which the hon. Gentleman was a Minister.