§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new jobs he estimates were created by inward investment into Scotland in 1997–98. [49791]
§ Mr. WilsonMany of the inward investment projects attracted to Scotland in 1997–98 will be implemented over a period of years and the creation of the new jobs associated with them will be phased accordingly. Figures published in the Locate in Scotland Annual Review for 1997–98 show that during that year Locate in Scotland and The Scottish Office helped to attract to Scotland 87 inward investment projects which, if fully implemented, will lead to the creation of 14,524 new jobs and the safeguarding of 3,423 existing jobs. Additionally, we are aware of a further 18 projects involving the planned creation of 850 jobs but in which neither Locate in Scotland nor The Scottish Office had any direct involvement.
The figures are based on the employment forecasts made by companies at the time of the decision to invest. Some projects may subsequently be reduced in scale as a result of changes in the commercial environment. Equally, however, some projects may lead to more investment and more jobs than originally anticipated; and the figures take no account of the substantial number of new jobs created indirectly in supplier companies. Experience over a number of years indicates that, on average, around two-thirds of planned direct jobs are created.