HC Deb 07 November 1995 vol 265 cc780-1W
Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people who have been helped to return to business in Northern Ireland by the local enterprise development unit, have also received assistance from(a) Industrial research and technology unit and (b) the Training and Employment Agency. [41896]

Sir John Wheeler

One company which was established following the original launch of LEDU's "Making it Back Home" campaign in 1991 has received assistance from both the Training and Employment Agency and the industrial research and technology unit.

Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many businesses in Northern Ireland have(a) applied for assistance from the export marketing research scheme and (b) been granted assistance by the export marketing research scheme in the past five years in Northern Ireland. [41904]

Sir John Wheeler

Since March 1990, 11 Northern Ireland companies have applied for assistance under the export marketing research scheme. Of these, eight applications were successful and three were rejected.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public funds were invested in the Rath Mor community business centre in Creggan, Londonderry; what assistance was given to the project by the International Fund for Ireland; what plans there are for the location of a Wellworths supermarket in the centre; and if he will make a statement about the availability of public funds for supermarket chains from(a) Great Britain; and (b) the Republic of Ireland locating in Northern Ireland. [41947]

Mr. Moss

The public sector contribution to the Rath Mor centre comprised a grant of £1.08 million and a loan of £0.27 million paid by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland together with an amount of £12,500 paid by the local enterprise development unit of the Department of Economic Development.

I understand that the International Fund for Ireland has assisted the development. The fund is administered by an independent board appointed jointly by the two Governments. All disbursements are a matter for that Board and questions regarding them should be directed to the fund's chairman, Mr. William T. McCarter, PO Box 2000, Belfast BT4 3SA.

Wellworths has occupied the supermarket unit in the Rath Mor centre since it opened.

There are no public funds available for supermarket chains from Great Britain or the Republic of Ireland wishing to locate in Northern Ireland.

Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money will be available in total every year for the "Making it Back Home" scheme. [41898]

Sir John Wheeler

The initial budget will be £2 million next year. Experience from that year will help set future budgets.