Employment

21.

Mr. Ernest G. Perry
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new jobs have been promoted during 1978 in firms based in Northern Ireland, and from firms based outside Northern Ireland; how this compares with past years.

Mr. Concannon
Up to the end of September the number of new jobs promoted by the Department of Commerce during 1978 was 5,472, of which 1,774 are expected from expansions and new local projects, and 3,698 from firms new  to Northern Ireland. These are the highest figures for several years. The attached table shows the number of jobs promoted by the Department of Commerce from 1973 to 1978.In addition, the local enterprise development unit promoted 1,212 new jobs in small local firms in the year ending March 1978. This is the highest figure since 1973–74.-----------------------------
|                           |
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|1973                       |
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|1974                       |
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|1975                       |
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|1976                       |
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|1977                       |
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|1978 (up to 30th September)|
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