HC Deb 25 May 1993 vol 225 cc549-50W
Mr. Richards

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many firms in Clwyd have been helped by consultancy initiatives in each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Hunt

The number of firms which have received completed consultancies under the scheme in Clwyd are as follows:

Number
1988–89 124
1989–90 196
1990–91 1113
1991–92 1149
1992–93 1140
1993–94 29
Total 531
1 Completed.
2 Completed to date.

These consultancy services are provided by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and delivered in Wales on his behalf by the Welsh Development Agency.

The scheme, as my right hon. Friend announced on 10 March, Official Report, columns 583–84, will continue at reduced rates of subsidy. This will allow the development

of a new, wider and more flexible package of support which will help a larger number of companies, within the available resources. This new package of assistance, which will still include consultancy support, will continue after 31 March 1994, when the enterprise initiative consultancy scheme was due to end.