HL Deb 15 February 1999 vol 597 cc66-7WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are their achievements in South Yorkshire, covering Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley, since May 1997 in the economic field and in the social services areas. [HL773]

The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Simon of Highbury)

Since May 1997, the Government have demonstrated a very significant level of commitment to the regeneration of South Yorkshire. A total of 192 offers of Regional Selective Assistance, worth £18.2 million, have been awarded to businesses in South Yorkshire, which will result in the creation or safeguarding of more than 5,500 jobs. RSA is helping to attract investors such as Ventura to the Dearne Valley, and the Dearne Valley link road, opened towards the end of 1998, further increased opportunities in this former coalfield area.

More than £56 million has been invested in youth and adult training delivered by Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs). This has resulted in young people up to 24 years-old achieving more than 9,000 National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and almost 5,000 adult trainees finding jobs.

Approximately £60 million has been allocated to Action Plans in South Yorkshire under the 1997–99 Structural Funds Objective 2 Programme under which the Action Plan partnerships are now bringing forward projects. Projects approved since May 1997 are expected to create over 5,800 new jobs, safeguard over 2,000 existing jobs and lever in an additional £50 million of private sector investment in the county.

In 1997 four single Regeneration Budget (SRB) initiatives in South Yorkshire were offered a total of £19.7 million as part of Round 4. Under existing SRB programmes, £85 million has been paid since May 1997 resulting in over 1,700 new business start-ups, more than 1,000 entries to self-employment, over 4,000 jobs created, and almost 9,000 trainees qualified.

The Government have also established a Health Action Zone across Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, Education Action Zones in Barnsley and Sheffield and have now agreed that an Employment Action Zone should be established in Doncaster.

Finally, the Government have received the report from the Coalfields Task Force and have responded positively to all its recommendations. In particular it has announced the establishment of a Coalfields Enterprise Fund and the establishment of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. In addition, the Government have made additional funding available through the Housing Investment Programme to those local authorities within the Coalfield areas. These measures will of course impact on South Yorkshire.