HC Deb 07 April 1960 vol 621 c557
37. Mr. Jay

asked the President of the Board of Trade how often he proposes, in future, to alter the list of development districts under the Local Employment Act.

Mr. J. Rodgers

As I said in my Answer last Tuesday to the hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Grey), the list of development districts will be altered whenever the situation requires.

Mr. Jay

Will the Parliamentary Secretary note that, although we welcome the latest additions to the list and we are all in favour of reasonable flexibility, if he issues a new list every few weeks he will get into the sort of confusion that he was in a few years ago?

Mr. Rodgers

I entirely agree that too frequent changes would lead to confusion. It is possible that the list will not be revised more than, say, three or four times a year at most.

Mr. J. T. Price

Can the hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that he will in no circumstances alter the list for political convenience within six months of the next General Election?

Mr. Rodgers

There has been no political consideration whatever in compiling the list of places which are to be found in the list of development districts.