HC Deb 08 February 1996 vol 271 c298W
Mr. Jamieson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies have received grant aid from his Department in the south-west region since January 1990; and how many of those companies are still trading. [10112]

Mr. Lang

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: The number of businesses in the south-west receiving grants under the principal current regional and technology support schemes in the period is as follows:

Number
Regional selective assistance 386
Regional enterprise grant 575
Small firms merit award for research and technology 112
Support for products under research 37

As projets are normally monitored for only a limited number of years after final payment of grant, complete information on grant recipients' trading status is not readily available.

Mr. Jamieson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the companies in the south-west which have received financial assistance since 1985 from his Department showing(a) the year assistance was given, (b) how much was given and (c) if the company is still trading. [13109]

Mr. Lang

[holding answer 1 February 1996]: A full answer to the question could be prepared only at disproportionate cost. In summary terms, the number of businesses in the south-west receiving grants under the principal current regional and technology support schemes in the period is as follows:

Number
Regional selective assistance 514
Regional enterprise grant 639
Small firms merit award for research and technology 112
Support for products under research 37

In addition, around 2,000 payments were made under the regional development grant scheme and over 11,600 businesses received support for business reviews under the enterprise initiative consultancy service.

As projects are normally monitored for only a limited number of years after final payment of the grant, complete information on grant recipients' trading status is not readily available.