§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many enterprise councils there are in Wales; what estimate he has made of the number of jobs they have (i) created and (ii) secured; and if he will make a statement. [38459]
§ Mr. HainThere are 19 approved local enterprise agencies in Wales. The Welsh Office does not hold information on the number of jobs they have helped create318W or safeguard. However a recent report from Wales Enterprise Ltd. indicated that in 1996–97 the enterprise agencies had:
- assisted over 2,200 new businesses to start up;
- provided over 26,000 counselling sessions to firms; and
- helped over 3,000 enterprises with the development of business plans.
The enterprise agencies in Wales are important partners within Business Connect, and as the above figures illustrate, play a very useful role in supporting new and established businesses.