The supplementary material submitted by IDB after its evidence session on inward investment in June 1999 included a table of location of projects (and associated jobs) in TSB areas over the period April 1995 to March 1999. A copy of the table is enclosed. I should be grateful if you could indicate whether the column headed "Associated New Jobs" refers to jobs actually created or whether it relates to forecasts of jobs expected to be created by the projects in question. Whichever it is, is it also possible to provide the other figures?

21 June 2000

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON JOB FIGURES

  Thank you for your letter of 21 June 2000 seeking additional information on the job figures IDB supplied in the supplementary material following its evidence session with the Committee on inward investment.

  The 6,149 jobs referred to in the table on page 19 relating to the 37 new inward investment projects which located in TSN areas over the period April 1995 to March 1999 are those promised by companies as a result of their investments.

  The attached table provides further detail on the actual levels of employment created by these projects at March 2000.

  You will appreciate that companies take a number of years to build employment levels against targets, in line with timetables for project implementation set in their business plans. Consequently, IDB would expect jobs to continue to be created by thoses projects over the next few years to rise to around 70 per cent which is compatible with conversion rates in Scotland and Wales.

  This is consistent with the Minister's comments to the NI Affairs Committee hearing on 14 June 2000, that for the period April 1994 to March 1997, 71 per cent of promoted jobs from new inward investments locating in TSN areas had been created by companies. These figures have also been reported in IDB's Annual Report (page 14) for the year ending March 1999.

LOCATION OF PROJECTS (AND ASSOCIATED JOBS) TO TSN DESIGNATED AREAS: APRIL 1995-MARCH 1999

  Set out below are the geographical locations of the 37 new inward investment projects which located in TSN areas over the period April 1995 to March 1999, together with the associated job promotions and the total employment at March 2000.

Council Area	Number New Inward Investment Projects	Associated New Jobs Promoted	Actual Employment at March 2000
Belfast	23	3,272	1,398
Cookstown	1	330	269
Derry	3	672	442
Fermanagh	2	118	60
Limavady	1	759	837
Lisburn (Colin Glen and Poleglass Wards)	5	781	213
Newry & Mourne	2	217	340
TOTAL	37	6,149	3,559 ie, 58% and increasing

11 July 2000