HC Deb 03 February 1966 vol 723 cc1277-8
42. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation for the provision of wider powers to deal with local unemployment problems.

Mr. Jay

Yes, Sir. The Government's proposals were outlined in the White Paper on Investment Incentives.

Mr. Hamilton

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the proposals will deal with the difficulties of areas where problems arise as a result of depopulation? Will he give an assurance that when he announces his legislation, he will also announce the next batch of advance factories which have been promised exclusively for coalmining areas which will suffer from expedited mine closures?

Mr. Jay

I am not sure whether I can promise an exact coincidence of dates, but I assure my hon. Friend that the proposals generally will have regard to depopulation and other factors as well as to unemployment.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Will the forthcoming legislation to which the right hon. Gentleman refers be entirely a Board of Trade Bill, or will part of it be in the Finance Bill in due course?

Mr. Jay

There will be a Board of Trade Bill which will cover both what are normally called local employment powers and the investment incentives as well. There may be consequential effects on the Finance Bill.