Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many businesses the Textiles Growth Programme has supported in (a) Lancashire and (b) Pendle in each of the last three years.

To date, the Textile Growth Programme, (England wide) has engaged with 68 companies in Lancashire, 8 of which are based in Pendle.

14 companies in Lancashire have benefited from grants through this programme to the value of about £945,000, with a target to create or safeguard about 335 jobs. Two of these companies are in Pendle and have benefited from over £200,000 with a target to create 104 jobs.

Also, in Lancashire, there are five additional business applications currently in appraisal / project board review phase.