35. Mr. Ivor Owen Thomasasked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration has been given to the representations of local authorities in the Wrekin division for a survey of the industrial area of East Shropshire with a view to further industrial development in that area, having regard to its resources and previous industrial importance, its present population and large element of skilled labour available, and the need for avoiding the recurrence of slump and unemployment which affected the district in the inter-war years; and what action has been taken arising out of such representations.
§ Sir S. CrippsI am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply sent to the representations of local authorities in the East Shropshire area. The surveys of industrial areas which my Department is conducting will be extended as soon as possible to include East Shropshire. At present, work is being concentrated on those areas where there is the greatest danger of unemployment.