§ 27. Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to reduce the difference between the rate of unemployment in various areas of the United Kingdom; by how much he expects the percentage differential to be reduced, on the basis of present policies, in one, five 604 and 10 years; and what the expected percentage changes represent in terms of additional jobs.
§ Mr. ShoreThe problems of the development areas are long-term and will require time for solution but the immediate objective of the Government's wide-ranging programme of assistance to the development areas is to halve present disparities in the next few years.
§ Mr. HigginsThat Answer has given the right hon. Gentleman a way out of the semantic snarl he got into on Question No. 9. Can he tell us what the cost per additional job will be of the Government's development area programme?
§ Mr. ShoreAs I said earlier, it would be misleading to try to relate new job creation to the total amount spent on all the forms of assistance that go into development areas.
§ Mr. John FraserWill my right hon. Friend take a hard look at the possibility of transferring office jobs, which are labour-intensive, into the development areas? This is as relevant to the overcrowded areas in the South-East and to housing there as it is to job opportunities in the development areas.
§ Mr. ShoreI wholly agree with my hon. Friend. This is a very important aspect of development area policy. On the location of Government offices, we have given development areas as much priority as we can, and the introduction of control over private office building in the South-East and Midlands will have at least some effect towards the end that my hon. Friend wishes.