§ 27. Mr. Urwinasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of public investment to development areas in 1966–67; what was the allocation to the Northern Region in capital terms; and what estimate he has made of the requirement to 1970–71.
§ Mr. DiamondFigures for public investment in development areas are not available. The latest figures for public investment in new construction by planning region were given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Scotstoun (Mr. Small) on 22nd February, 1968. Estimates for future years are under consideration.—[Vol. 759, c. 170.]
§ Mr. UrwinI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for reminding me of that reply on 22nd February, but will he bear in mind strongly that the figures then quoted in relation to investment in new construction in the Northern Region meant that we were considerably at the lower end of that league table? If we are to have a resurgence of regional economy in the early 1970s, it is essential that the Northern Region should get a greater share of public investment.
§ Mr. DiamondI understand my hon. Friend's concern, but he must equally realise that one just cannot allocate public expenditure between different parts of the country in such a narrow way.
§ Mr. RipponIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has admitted that the Northern Region is receiving a smaller proportion of the public investment programme than was promised? What are the Government going to do about it?
§ Mr. DiamondI am not aware of that.