§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of(a) new jobs created and (b) existing jobs protected since May 1997 by the provision of financial support from his Department. [60618]
§ Mr. HainA range of services which include the provision of financial support are operated by the Welsh Office. Information on all of these is not held centrally in the form requested.
The main form of direct financial support available to companies wishing to pursue investment projects in Wales is Regional Selective Assistance (RSA).
Since 1 May 1997, RSA offers worth £133 million have been accepted by firms toward 193 projects. This amount was in total associated with the creation of 14,744 new jobs and the safeguarding of 2,957 existing jobs over the estimated 3 to 5 year life of each project.