§ 20. Mr. Michael Shawasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the actual and potential performance of a firm in the export and technological fields as qualifications to be taken into account when reviewing applications for industrial development certificates.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mrs. Gwyneth Dun-woody)These factors are already taken into account in considering applications for industrial development certificates.
§ Mr. ShawDoes the hon. Lady agree that in these important fields, where it is essential to get the maximum expansion, there should be no discouragement to such firms? In particular, it is very often a severe discouragement if the necessity to move is part of the price they must pay for expansion.
Mrs. DunwoodyHon. Members opposite who represent development areas are very anxious to have advance factories and to have employment created in those areas. The I.D.C. policy is working with that aim in mind. This is something we must continue to do very actively.
§ Mr. CantDoes my hon. Friend accept that there is a general feeling in the country at large that the Board of Trade applies quite rigorously the rather primitive yardstick of relative unemployment figures, and that in areas such as the Potteries, where the unemployment figure is admittedly low, the potential export of the pottery industry is to some extent being frustrated? As it is now 60 per cent. of output, it should be encouraged.
Mrs. DunwoodyI cannot accept that. The Board of Trade operates a very flexible I.D.C. policy and takes account of those pockets of higher unemployment in areas where we should normally not be flexible in our policies. It is important for the development areas particularly that we continue to keep tight control.