Blackpool and the Fylde Coast

HC Deb 19 May 1966 vol 728 cc1526-7

14. Mr. Blaker

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will designate Blackpool and the Fylde coast as a development area.

Mr. Jay

The economic circumstances of this area do not justify adding it to the proposed development areas.

Mr. Blaker

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the unemployment rate in the area, even at this time of the year, is very much above the national average and that, in my constituency, a very large factory, with over 1 million square feet of space, has been empty for some time? Does not this give the area at least as good a claim to be a development area as many other places which are already so scheduled?

Mr. Jay

I agree that the area has an unemployment rate rather above the national average, but it is not high enough to justify full development area concessions. It does, however, justify an easy I.D.C. policy for the area.