§ 8. Mr. David Watkinsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to offer additional incentives to firms to establish their research and development departments, as well as their manufacturing activities, in the north-east of England development area.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. George Darling)The incentives now available should act as a considerable inducement to firms to establish research and development activities in the development areas. We do not at present contemplate new forms of inducement under Board of Trade legislation, but my hon. Friend's attention is drawn to the proposal for a regional employment premium on which the Government recently published a memorandum.
§ Mr. WatkinsI thank my right hon. Friend for that helpful and detailed reply, but does not he agree that an increase in industrial research and development would make an important contribution to the long-term economic stability of the north-east region?
§ Mr. DarlingI entirely agree, and Ministers have recently discussed this problem with the chairman and members of the Northern Economic Planning Board. We shall give a considered reply to their recommendations on this point.
§ Mr. CorfieldWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the importance of siting Government research establishments in these areas? What is being done in this respect?
§ Mr. DarlingThe siting of Government establishments is under consideration all the time. They are not always on the move, but, whenever we can get them on the move, we hope to put them in development areas.