§ 14. Mr. Willisasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what proposals he has for bringing new industries to those areas suffering from continuing depopulation which are not scheduled for assistance under the Local Employment Act.
§ Mr. HeathMy first obligation must continue to be to the development districts. But I am always prepared to consider applications for suitable industrial development in areas suffering from depopulation.
§ Mr. WillisIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these areas are really exporting unemployment, and are declining? I have in mind the Prime Minister's constituency of West Perth shire and others in Scotland. Is it not time that the Government undertook to do something special for these areas, in the same way as they do for areas of heavy unemployment?
§ Mr. HeathThe hon. Gentleman is asking me to change priorities. I do not think I can do that. I do not think that it would be the general wish to do that. We must concentrate our resourcew on the areas wlere there is the highest unemployment.