North-East Lancashire

HC Deb 14 November 1968 vol 773 cc583-4

1. Mr. Arthur Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement about economic and industrial prospects in North-East Lancashire in the coming year.

The Minister of State, Department of Economic Affairs (Mr. T. W. Urwin)

Given the generally encouraging outlook for the cotton textile industry and other industries, prospects for North-East Lancashire have improved, and there are a large number of new jobs being created.

Mr. Davidson

Is my hon. Friend aware that his words give cause for moderate optimism in North-East Lancashire, to put it no higher than that, particularly in view of the gloomy and rather alarming forecasts of 12 months ago? However, is he aware that in Lancashire we eagerly await the Hunt Report and hope that something concrete will come out of it to deal with the inbuilt problems which have plagued North-East Lancashire during this century?

Mr. Urwin

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his optimistic remarks. I am fully aware of the implications of the Hunt Report and I advise my hon. Friend to await the more detailed answers to be given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State later today.

Mr. Waddington

How can we be expected to share the hon. Gentleman's optimism when whenever we ask about the future levels of cotton imports we are told to await the report of the Textile Council, and whenever we ask about the future of the grey areas we are told to await the Hunt Report and when the whole future of North-East Lancashire is threatened by the possibility of a new town in central Lancashire? Cannot the hon. Gentleman galvanise his right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government into saying that there will be no new town, so that there may be some confidence in the future?

Mr. Speaker

Supplementary questions should be reasonably brief.

Mr. Urwin

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman appreciates the importance of the reports which he has mentioned and the necessity for decisions to await the presentation of those reports. The consultants appointed by my right hon. Friend and invited to examine the question of a new town have concluded that while a new town is likely to accelerate economic changes in North-East Lancashire, the long-term effects will be beneficial to the area as a whole. Nevertheless, remedial measures were suggested to offset possible disadvantages, and these are now being considered.