HC Deb 01 November 1989 vol 159 cc260-1W
Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give(a) the total number of applications for the business development consultancy initiative received between 1 April 1988 and 30 September 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved. (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure for 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, in cash and constant prices, for each of the standard Department of Trade and Industry regions, Wales and Scotland.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

[holding answer 30 October 1989]: In the period from 1 April 1988 to 30 September 1989, 31,415 applications were received for the business development consultancy initiatives. In the same period 24,081 applications were approved for assisted consultancy. The Department's contribution to the cost of completed consultancies totalled £27.1 million. It is estimated that those consultancies not completed by 30 September 1989 will cost the Department a further £29.3 million. A breakdown of numbers and cost of consultancy projects for each DTI region and for Scotland and Wales is as follows:

(a) (b) (ci) (cii)
DTI region/country Number of applications received Number of applications approved for assisted consultancy DTI expenditure on completed consultancies (£'000) Estimated expenditure on outstanding consultancies (£'000)
North East 1,590 1,225 1,300 1,404
North West 4,453 3,780 4,945 5,032
Yorkshire and Humberside 2,878 2,254 2,932 3,042
West Midlands 3,325 2,427 2,966 3,218
East Midlands 1,957 1,530 1,839 2,048
South West 2,990 1,995 1,820 2,136
East 2,568 1,725 1,398 1,726
South East:
London 3,818 2,871 2,669 2,867
Reading 1,861 1,486 1,427 1,726
Reigate 1,910 1,487 1,349 1,580
Scotland 2,293 1,976 2,860 2,779
Wales 1,772 1,325 1,585 1,697
Total 31,415 24,081 27,090 29,255

The total amount of expenditure on the business development consultancy initiatives in 1988–89 was £43.1 millions. The Estimates provision for 1989.90 is £80 millions. Plans for future years will be reflected in the 1990 Public Expenditure White Paper. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of total expenditure or provision on the consultancy initiatives for each DTI region or for Scotland or Wales.