§ Dr. LadymanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average level of regional selective assistance grant made in 1997 in each of the Government office areas. [25747]
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§ Mrs. RocheThe average of regional selective assistance offers made in 1997 was as follows:
£ Government Office Average (cost per job) development area Intermediate area East — 2,297 East Midlands 4,688 3,116 London — 2,670 Mersey side 3,162 — North East 3,104 2,378 North West 2,453 2,588 South East 5,376 2,892 South West 4,803 3,894 West Midlands 7,045 8,794 Yorkshire and the Humber 2,696 2,922 England average 4,326 3,699 Further detailed information on RSA grants is published in the Annual Report of the Industrial Development Act 1982.
§ Dr. LadymanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many regional selective assistance grants were made at the maximum level and how many grants were made in total in each of the Government office areas in 1997. [25748]
§ Mrs. RocheMaximum aid limits are defined by EU State Aid rules and limit the maximum percentage of a project's capital cost that can be provided as aid. The present limits for GB are 30 per cent. in Development Areas and 20 per cent. in Intermediate Areas. There were no offers of RSA grant made at the maximum limit in 1997. In all cases the amount of grant offered is the minimum necessary for the project to go ahead. The total number of offers of regional selective assistance made in 1997 was as follows:
Government Office Number of offers made East 17 East Midlands 100 London 49 Merseyside 99 North East 221 North West 148 South East 60 South West 42 West Midlands 156 Yorkshire and the Humber 191 Total for England 1,083