§ Dr. LadymanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grants of regional selective assistance were made in Scotland in 1997; how many were made at the maximum level; what was the average level; and how many jobs he estimates were created. [32552]
§ Mr. WilsonDuring 1997 there were 235 offers of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) made in Scotland. Offers to 3 projects in development areas were made at the GB maximum RSA cost per job limit and there were no offers made to intermediate area projects at the lower cost per job limit applying to these areas. The weighted average RSA cost per job of all 1997 offers in development areas was £8,103 and in intermediate areas was £3,679. These offers were in total associated with the planned creation of 19,546 new jobs and safeguarding of 3,116 jobs. The actual number of jobs created and safeguarded cannot be ascertained until the projects in question have been completed, which on average takes some 3 to 4 years.