§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new jobs have been created in(a) the north west and (b) Lancashire through the Defence Diversification Agency. [136910]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Defence Diversification Agency has been operating in the north west of England since 1999 and has so far assisted over 200 technology transfer proposals from the Ministry of Defence to a value in excess of £1 million. A further 350 potential projects have been identified and it is estimated that up to ten times that number of companies in the region could benefit from DDA assistance.
179WThere are currently no reliable techniques for translating the impact of technology transfer into new jobs created. However, the DDA is exploring methods of measuring value with a view to implementing appropriate measurement tools into future projects. Estimates for audit work for the Northwest Development Agency on a contract it has with the DDA suggests the DDA adds value through its activities of around three times that of its costs.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by his Department in(a) Lancashire and (b) the north-west. [136911]
§ Mr. CaplinThe number of people employed by the Department (headcount figure for permanent, non-industrial and industrial staff, excluding Trading Funds, Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and those on career breaks, long-term sick leave, secondments etc.) as at 1 October 2003, in the north-west, is 2,800. Reliable data are not currently available at county level.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel work in Lancashire. [136912]
§ Mr. CaplinIn July 2002, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 4901 armed forces personnel working in Lancashire, 60 in Fylde local authority area and 420 in Preston local authority area.
1All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Due to rounding methods used, that total may not always equal the sum of the parts.