Catalogue description Welsh Office: Industry Regional Assistance: Registered Files (RP Series)

This series is arranged in former departmental reference order.

Records within this series are from the Welsh Office's Economic and Regional Policy Division.

Division 1 of the Economic and Regional Policy Group was responsible for the co-ordination of Welsh Office's interest and contribution to the 1992 National Garden Festival at Ebbw Vale. This was the case until a significant restructuring exercise in 1995.

In 1984, Division 1 of the group was responsible for coordination of advice on general economic and industrial matters, together with the administration of the Careers Service in Wales. It also had oversight of the activities of the Manpower Services Commission and its agencies in Wales.

By 1986, the division had responsibility for the evaluation of regional industrial policy and coordination of advice or development of enterprise zones, freeports and privatisation policy.

By 1988, the division also took responsibility for deregulation, small firms and enterprise (including Local Enterprise Agencies and the Small Business Gateway Network). The Division also acted as the liaison point on the second Severn Crossing. It also had oversight of the activities of the Training Agency and the operation of employment programmes (excluding unemployment benefit matters and job centres) in Wales.

By 1995, the Regional Development Division was part of the Economic Development Group. It aimed to assist the economic development of Wales through its sponsorship of the Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales, the Wales Tourist Board, Cardiff Bay Development Corporation and the Land Authority for Wales.