HC Deb 22 February 1968 vol 759 cc638-9
34. Mr. Richard Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the present term of office of the Chairman of the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council expires; and what steps have been taken to ascertain the views of those living in that region about the future of this appointment.

Mr. Shore

His present term of office expires on 31st March, 1968. I have asked Sir Roger Stevens to continue, and he has agreed. I think he has done an excellent job and I am sure this is widely recognised in the region.

Mr. Wainwright

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, without disputing Sir Roger's remarkable record as a successful ambassador, what the people of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire most need in facing their artificially created economic problems is a leadership in which they can have undoubted confidence because they have chosen it?

Mr. Shore

I think that Sir Roger has given very good leadership to the Regional Council. Under his guidance there was published in 1966 for the first time for this new region a study which I think contained a number of very new and important ideas. This has been followed up by a number of sub-regional studies, including one for the Huddersfield and Colne Valley subregions.