§ 6. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will ensure that all expenditure of local 211 authorities in the North-East undertaken to diminish unemployment is regarded as normal expenditure for the purposes of Section 6 of the Local Government Act of 1958.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. F. V. Corfield)My right hon. Friend will be prepared to regard as eligible for rate-deficiency grant additional expenditure incurred by local authorities to reduce an exceptionally high level of unemployment.
§ Mr. BoydenCan the hon. Gentleman go a little further and give technical assistance on such things as industrial sites if a local authority has not sufficient staff itself?
§ Mr. CorfieldThat is another question. If the hon. Gentleman will put it down, I will apply my mind to it.
§ Mr. JegerWill the hon. Gentleman extend this policy to parts of northern England which are not technically in the North-East, for example, south Yorkshire, where there is a high level of unemployment, though not as high as in the North-East?
§ Mr. CorfieldThe limiting factor is whether or not there are exceptional circumstances which my right hon. Friend can take into account. The area as such is not really crucial.