§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North-East Derbyshire constituency, the effect on North-East Derbyshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150883]
§ Mr. CabornThe constituency of North-East Derbyshire has benefited from a range of initiatives since May 1997 including:
Regional Selective Assistance—a discretionary grant which provides assistance towards capital projects which would not otherwise go ahead and will create or safeguard employment in an Assisted Area. Grants of £2.001 million given to support capital expenditure of £21.589 million to create 385 new jobs and safeguard a further 146 jobs.
Enterprise Grants—new initiative introduced in 2000. A discretionary grant to SMEs investing in capital projects which would not otherwise go ahead. £162,000 in grant offered to support project costs of £1.389 million. Grants expected to safeguard or create approximately 35 jobs.
421WSmart—discretionary grant available to SMEs to help them develop technologically innovative products and processes. Six offers of grant made worth £475,000 in total.
Business Link—the Business Link network provides a wide range of business advice and support to SMEs. It is not possible to isolate Business Link data for the North-East Derbyshire constituency area. However, from 1997 to date, Business Link North Derbyshire, which includes the North-East Derbyshire constituency, has helped a total of 4,987 businesses and assisted 1,422 business start ups.
Invest UK—an initiative to help investors wishing to set up business in the UK. No inward investors have come to North-East Derbyshire under this scheme since 1997. However, five investors have been attracted to Chesterfield, providing access to job; for people living within the Chesterfield Travel to Work Area.
Regional Supply Office—an initiative which provides a range of support for supply chain development. It is not possible to isolate data for the North-East Derbyshire constituency alone. However companies from the north Derbyshire area have actively benefited from this initiative. £70 million of business opportunities have been matched to north Derbyshire comparic s and 73 companies have benefited from a European Regional Development Fund backed project designed to improve supply chain performance and make them more competitive.
European Regional Development Fund—in addition to its domestic initiatives, the Department of Trade and Industry is also the lead Department for European Structural Funds in the UK. Under ERDF Objective 2 (1997–99) North-East Derbyshire has benefited from 70 projects totalling £11.617 million. Under RECHAR II, four projects totalling £120,000 have been supported. These projects have delivered a range of business support and vocational training activities. En some instances, where projects cover the whole of the eligible programme area in the East Midlands, not all of the grant will have been spent inside the North-East Derbyshire constituency.