§ 28. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will initiate a study to see whether the advantages given to development areas through the allocation of new industry are affecting the growth of employment and expansion of small county towns.
§ Mr. UrwinNo, Sir. The Hunt Committee is studying the problems of places outside the development areas where the rate of economic growth gives cause, or may give cause, for concern.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Minister aware that the Government are not justified in supporting: he development areas at the expense of the country towns, which at present are being refused I.D.C.s? The bringing of light industry to them is vital in view of the reduction of labour in agriculture. Will he, before the Hunt Committee reports, ease up on the granting of I.D.C.s to those areas?
§ Mr. UrwinThe problems of the county towns cannot be divorced from the wider question of the effect of existing policies on non-development area regions as a whole. This matter is already being studied. On the question of I.D.C.s, the Board of Trade operates a liberal policy in regard to the requirements of a particular area. Whilst there have been one or two refusals in the hon. Gentleman's constituency, quite a number have been accepted.