§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who has responsibility for setting the level of grant offered to inward investors in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; and what arrangements ensure that they are not competing for the same business. [55963]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 22 October 1998]: Decisions on the level of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant to be offered to a potential inward investor are taken once a single site in the UK has been chosen. Responsibility for final decisions rests with me, as the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the site is in England, with the Secretary of State for Scotland if the site is in Scotland, and with the Secretary of State for Wales if the site is in Wales. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for the final decision on the level of Selective Financial Assistance to be offered to a potential inward investor if the site is in Northern Ireland.
134WThe Invest in Britain Bureau chairs the Committee on Overseas Promotion, part of whose role is to monitor rules agreed by Departments to avoid wasteful competition between the inward investment agencies of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the English regions.