HC Deb 22 January 1992 vol 202 cc265-6W
Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each region and for Great Britain as a whole for each year since April 1987(a) the number of people who were receiving the enterprise allowance and (b) the amount of expenditure on the EAS; if he will give the latest information he has on the survival of those businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Forth

Information, by region and for Great Britain as a whole, on the numbers of people receiving the enterprise allowance since April 1987 is shown in the table. The figures relate to the number of people receiving EAS at year end 31 March for each year since 1987–88. The table also shows EAS expenditure on allowances for each financial year since 1987–88.

A 1988 survey of a sample of EAS businesses begun in March and April of 1987 showed that 76 per cent. of businesses in Great Britain were still trading six months after completing a full year on the scheme.

Number of people receiving Enterprise allowance: 1987–88 and 1988–89
Region 1987–88 1988–89
London West 7,657 5,852
London East 7,373 7,602
London South 8,202 6,803
South West 9,893 9,289
West Midlands 9,229 8,781
East Midlands 9,001 8,578
Yorkshire and Humberside 9,032 8,980
North West 14,205 13,909
North 5,152 5,311
Scotland 8,710 7,699
Wales 5,854 6,255
Total 94,308 89.059

Note: Totals are in thousands and as at the end of the financial year.

Number of people receiving Enterprise Allowance: 1989–90 and 1990–91
Region 1989–90 1990–91
London 8,377 6,494
South East 7,554 6,142
South West 6,501 4,642
West Midlands 6,916 5,025
East Midlands 7,061 5,653
Yorks and Humberside 7,366 5,658
North West 11,436 8,816
North 4,252 3,257

Region 1989–90 1990–91
Scotland 6,310 5,277
Wales 4,896 3,636
Total 70,669 54,600
1 Totals are in thousands and as at the end of the financial year.

The total amount of expenditure on Enterprise Allowance since 1987 is as follows:

Year £
1987–88 189,927,902
1988–89 191,580,697
1989–90 167,241,000
1990–91 127,737,506