§ 19. Mr. Boydenasked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to enlarge the rôle of the management corporations in encouraging industry to settle in development districts.
§ Mr. ErrollI have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Mother well (Mr. Lawson) on 18th June.
§ Mr. BoydenWhy cannot the right hon. Gentleman act with the despatch which he says is customary in his Department? Does he recall the evidence given by the chairman of the State management corporation for England to the Estimates Committee, Question No. 696, that had that corporation had wider powers more industry would have been attracted to the North-East? This has been so since 1960? If that be so, why does not the President of the Board of Trade take action quite independent of his replies to the Estimates Committee?
§ Mr. ErrollI am in a difficulty because several Questions have been asked about this Report and I feel that, as they are important matters, my reply ought to take the form of a considered reply and should not be given piecemeal in answer to Parliamentary Questions.
§ Mr. JayAs this is an urgent as well as an important point, will the right hon. Gentleman at least assure us that he will make a statement before the Summer Recess?
§ Mr. ErrollI shall make the statement as soon as I can, when I have given full consideration to all the important matters referred to in the Report.