To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many inward investing firms that had received financial assistance closed; how much grant they had received; and what was the total employment at the date of closure, in each region in each year since 1987–88.

[holding answer 8 June 1993]: Since the beginning of April 1987 to date 651 projects by foreign owned companies supported by either regional selective assistance or regional development grant, were completed. £95·8 million was paid in grant in support of 18,269 jobs. A check on whether all these companies now continue to trade since their projects were completed would involve disproportionate cost.