§ 35. Mr. Stodartasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reconsider the exclusion of Leith Docks from the development area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DarlingThe boundaries of the development areas are regularly reconsidered, but we have no plans for altering the present boundaries.
§ Mr. StodartCan the right hon. Gentleman say why it was that the Minister of State for Scotland stated the other day that consideration was to be given to the inclusion of Leith Docks in the development area? Why cannot this be done? Will the right hon. Gentleman now consider not only Leith Docks but also Edinburgh and Leith as well?
§ Mr. DarlingThere are two answers to that. The first is that the boundaries of development areas are regularly reconsidered. The second is that I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman has so little regard for the other areas of Scotland where there is heavy unemployment and where industrial development is far more greatly needed than in the Edinburgh area.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the seven-year guarantee given with the regional employment premium is severely curtailing the power of the Board of Trade to re-schedule development areas?
§ Mr. DarlingThat is another question and we will consider it.
§ Mr. Clark HutchisonAre the boundaries being considered now or not?
§ Mr. DarlingI said that they are always being reconsidered. Obviously there probably will be changes in the boundaries in the course of time, but this is not the time to alter the present boundaries.