§ 2. Mr. Fitchasked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for bringing new industries to Wigan.
§ Mr. D. PriceMy right hon. Friend is prepared to give sympathetic consideration to proposals for local expansions in Wigan or new projects which could not reasonably be expected to move to one of the development districts listed under the Local Employment Act.
§ Mr. FitchCan the Parliamentary Secretary be more specific? What he has said is very nice, but it does not mean very much. Can he give more details? What has he in mind for Wigan?
§ Mr. PriceI regret that I cannot be more specific. The hon. Member knows the general position that we are not prepared to designate Wigan as a development district. We are prepared to do what we can to assist local expansion—the hon. Member and I know of one or two cases which it is not appropriate to discuss in public—and secondly, there are firms who cannot go to development districts but whom we are anxious should go to places like Wigan.