§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the importance of assisted area status in the decisions of (i) United Kingdom and (ii) overseas companies concerning location and investment; and if he will make a statement. [79845]
§ Mr. HainThe Welsh Office, together with the Department for Trade and Industry and the Scottish Office, have jointly commissioned "Arup Economics and Planning" to undertake an evaluation of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) between 1991 and 1995. Amongst other things, it will look at the influence of RSA on investment decisions. The report is expected to be ready towards the middle of this year. Previous evaluations of RSA suggest that up to a fifth of RSA funded projects would have located outside the UK Assisted Areas in the absence of RSA.