§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs were created by the Industrial Development Board from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997; how many were the result of inward investment contracts; and what are the locations of these jobs. [3062]
§ Mr. IngramInformation on job creations is not available in the manner requested or by location. However, details of jobs promoted by the Industrial Development Board in 1996–97 are available by district council area and are set out in the table. The Industrial Development Board's own research shows that companies create approximately 70 per cent. of all promoted jobs over a period of three to five years after acceptance of the Industrial Development Board's offer of assistance.
Jobs promoted by the Industrial Development Board 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 District council area Total jobs promoted Inward investment jobs included in total jobs Antrim 35 20 Ards — — Armagh 11 — Ballymena 290 290 Ballymoney 73 73 Banbridge 40 — Belfast 930 781 Carrickfergus 76 — Castlereagh 85 44 Coleraine 68 — Cookstown 39 — Craigaon 132 45 Derry 543 340 Down 38 — Dungannon 434 344 Fermanagh 95 — Larne 369 369 Limavady 789 759 Lisburn 706 566 Magherafelt 51 — Moyle — — Newry and Mourne 152 131 Newtownabbey 805 779 North Down 14 — Omagh 115 — Strabane 115 100 Total 6,005 4,641
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about job creation and industrial development in Northern Ireland, with particular reference to inward investment in South Down. [3061]
§ Mr. IngramThe Government attaches a high priority to strengthening the Northern Ireland economy and a key component of this is the activity of the Department of Economic Development and its Economic Development Agencies to help Northern Ireland companies become internationally competitive and to attract high quality internationally mobile investments leading to growth in durable employment.
The industrial development board's remit of attracting inward investment extends to all parts of Northern Ireland, including the South Down area. Under this remit 207W particular emphasis is placed on encouraging investments to locate in disadvantaged areas and parts of the South Down constituency fall within these designated areas.