20.
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was his Department's total budget for regional aid to industry in each of the English regions, Scotland and Wales in the last year for which full figures are available.
The figures for my Department's spend on regional aid to industry in each of the English regions, Scotland and Wales in 1986–87 will be issued in the Official Report.
Is the Minister's Department now conducting a review of regional aid, and if so, what are the terms of reference? In view of the importance of regional aid to Wales, which aid has been slashed since 1979, during the review will the hon. Gentleman consult the Secretary of State for Wales, who is known to be a keen supporter of regional aid?
When any new team of Ministers comes into office, it is right and proper that they should ask questions and receive answers. That is exactly what we are doing at the moment. We hope to have the answers to the questions that we posed in the not too distant future. In the meantime, of course, we always consult our right hon. Friends, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is no exception.
Following are the figures:
Department of Trade and Industry payments of regional aid to industry in 1986–87 were as follows
| |
Area
| £ million
|
| North-East | 108·3 |
| North-West | 132·9 |
Area
| £ million
|
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 37·0 |
| East Midlands | 10·6 |
| West Midlands | 9·9 |
| South-West | 20·6 |
| Scotland | 0·6 |
| Wales | 0·9 |
| GB Total | 320·8 |
| 1. These figures cover regional development grants and regional selective assistance industrial and training grants. All figures are gross, before deducting domestic and European Community receipts. | |
| 2. The figures exclude expenditure on the provision of land and buildings through the English Industrial Estates Corporation, the exchange risk guarantee scheme and business improvement services as it is not possible to provide a breakdown of these items by English region. The amount spent on each of the above elements in England during 1986–87 was £12·7 million, £20·3 million and £13·8 million respectively. | |
| 3. Nearly all expenditure on regional aid to industry in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the Scottish and Welsh Offices respectively. | |