§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155902]
§ Mr. CabornThe Department has provided the following support for businesses in North Devon Constituency since May 1997.
Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)
RSA is a capital investment grant linked to the creation or safeguarding of jobs in designated areas of need (the Assisted Areas). Five RSA grant offers totalling £0.574 million have been made to businesses in the North Devon Constituency, to support projects with a total capital expenditure of £3.5 million, and to create and safeguard a total of 344 jobs.
Enterprise Grants
The Enterprise Grants scheme is a simplified scheme that was introduced in April 2000 to help small firms undertake fi iced capital investment projects. One application for £0.012 million in the North Devon Constituency is currently being appraised.
Business Link
PROSPER Business Link has provided services to small businesses in the North Devon Constituency since 1997. These include general and specialised advice to help businesses grow, export development counselling, Information and Communications Technology advice, and a full range of specialist information. From April 2001 these services will be provided by the Small Business Service operating through a franchise awarded to a 651W PROSPER-led partnership. This new service will be more customer focused ensuring that services are driven by local need.