§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of all allocations of money over £10,000 made under the Business Growth Fund in the financial year 1997–98; if he will give the allocations over £10,000 already made under this programme for financial years 1998–99 and 1999–2000; if he will give(a) the amount allocated to running costs and (b) the total funds available for each of the next three financial years; and what percentage of this will be under the control of the Scottish Parliament. [65809]
§ Mr. Dewar[holding answer 18 January 1999]: I intend the new Business Growth Fund to become operational from April 1999. Planned provision is: £3 million in 1999–2000, £4 million in 2000–01, and £5 million in 2001–02.
Details of the scheme, including the amount to be allocated to running costs, are currently being finalised in discussion with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I hope to be able to announce the final framework of the scheme shortly.
From July these resources will come under the control of the Scottish Parliament.