§ 41. Mr. Iorwerth Thomasasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage the Midland, London and South-East, Eastern and Southern Regions, on the one hand, and Scotland, 1277 Wales, the Northern and North-Western Regions, on the other, obtained of the total area of industrial development certificate approvals for Great Britain in the year ended December, 1965, compared with the average for the five years ended December, 1964.
§ Mr. JayFor the Midland, London and South-Eastern, Eastern and Southern Regions, 30 per cent. in 1965 compared with an average of 40 per cent, for the previous five years. For Scotland, Wales, the North and North-Western Regions, nearly 50 per cent. in 1965, compared with an average of 39 per cent. for the previous five years.
§ Mr. ThomasI am sure that Members on this side of the House will be very gratified at the Minister's reply. It is a clear and convincing—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman must come to his question.
§ Mr. ThomasI am coming to the question. While it is gratifying to hear of the expansion—
§ Mr. SpeakerWhat is the question?
§ Mr. ThomasIs my right hon. Friend aware that, despite the expansion which he has indicated, the enlargement of the development areas recently has caused great fears to arise in the minds of those Members who represent former development districts?
§ Mr. JayWe have secured in the past year exactly what we sought—a large increase in the share of industrial development going to the under-employed regions and more restraint in the congested regions.