HC Deb 01 February 1991 vol 184 cc650-1W
Mr. Peter Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list in theOfficial Report those measures of assistance to firms under the enterprise initiative which are directed on a regional basis and the regions in which they are currently available;

(2) if he will list in the Official Report those criteria by which firms in the south-east region of England are excluded from measures of assistance under the enterprise initiative;

(3) if he will consider making all measures of assistance to firms under the enterprise initiative available throughout the United Kingdom without regional distinction.

Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 30 January 1991]: Under the enterprise initiative, there are three measures of assistance which are directed on a regional basis: Regional selective assistance—available in the assisted areas of Great Britain; Regional enterprise grants—available in development areas of Great Britain and the intermediate areas of South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Plymouth and Fife; The consultancy initiatives—available throughout Great Britain but at a higher rate in assisted areas and urban programme areas.

The only forms of help under the enterprise initiative not available anywhere in the south-east are regional selective assistance and regional enterprise grants. In urban programme areas in the south-east firms can benefit from higher rates of support under the consultancy initiatives.

A wide range of criteria were used in drawing up the current assisted areas map, including unemployment, long-term unemployment, industrial and occupational structure, population density and remoteness from main markets. No areas in the south-east were judged to warrant assisted area status. The designation of urban programme areas is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment.

We have no intention of extending to the whole of the United Kingdom the additional help available regionally. The Government seek to promote enterprise and growth throughout the country as a whole but within this framework, extra help is needed in certain areas.