HC Deb 11 February 2004 vol 417 cc1480-1W
Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses have been helped by each regional development agency; what the average sum of money received by these businesses is; how many of the businesses helped are still operating; and how many of these businesses have increased their profitability. [148189]

Jacqui Smith:

[pursuant to her reply, 28 January 2004, c. 376 W]Unfortunately the table referred to in the final paragraph was not provided. Following is the complete text.

England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) help businesses both directly and indirectly through a range of activities and programmes including skills development, upgrading infrastructure and improving business competitiveness of the region in general.

Information on how many businesses have been helped, the average sum of money received, how many are still operating, and how many have increased their profitability, is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The number of businesses added to the regional economy as a direct result of RDA activity is available for financial year 2002–2003 and is broken down by Agency in the following table. The information is also available on the DTI website at http://wwv.dti.gov.uk/rda/info/.

RDA Total number of new businesses added to the regional economy in 2002–03 as a direct result of RDA activities
Advantage West Midlands 170
East of England Development Agency 156
East Midlands Development Agency 225
London Development Agency 1,368
North West Development Agency 603
One North East 717
South East of England Development Agency 141
South West Regional Development Agency 525
Yorkshire Forward 826
Total 4,203

Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regional development agency projects are being evaluated; and when the results will be known. [153586]

£000
Research Council 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03
BBSRC 206,648 206,863 209,127 230,697 248,681 275,752
CCLRC 118,624 117,819 115,015 118,345 129,019 124,158
EPSRC 392,870 389,889 400,366 429,157 541,962 573,425
ESRC 65,993 69,083 72,119 77,265 82,167 88,107
MRC 320,115 311,513 344,383 372,753 438,057 456,566
NERC 218,397 223,876 242,025 259,465 280,012 278,665
PPARC 215,869 207,480 184,703 216,613 230,380 267,387
Total expenditure 1,322,647 1,319,043 1,383,035 1.487,682 1,719,898 1,796,673

Notes:

1. Figures shown are sourced from the Research Councils financial accounts and exclude notional cost of capital.

2. Figures shown are total spend by each council, financed from all sources.