HC Deb 13 November 1991 vol 198 cc558-9W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the gross budget of the Development Board for Rural Wales in each year from 1975; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Hunt

The table shows the DBRW's gross expenditure for each year since its inception in 1977.

DBRW gross expenditure3
Year £ million
1977–78 6.5
1978–79 9.7
1979–80 12.2
1980–81 10.3
1981–82 12.6
1982–83 14.4
1983–84 14.2
1984–85 16.4
1985–86 17.9
1986–87 415.4
1987–88 15.3
1988.89 18.3
1989–90 19.5
1990–91 19.6
1991–92 120.9
1992–93 223.6
1 Estimated.
2 Planned.
3 Including National Loans Fund servicing.
4 Loan servicing requirements reduced by Welsh Office.

The increase of £2.2 million planned for the DBRW's budget in 1992–93 will enable the board to build on its special rural action programme, introduced to stimulate enterprise in the more remote rural areas of mid-Wales, as well as allowing the board to increase its social development work and take forward several joint initiatives with local authorities.

The planned gross expenditure for the board in 1992–93 represents an increase of almost 13 per cent. over estimated gross expenditure for 1991–92.