§ 6. Mr Milneasked the Minister of Technology what arrangements have been made by his Department to deal with the special problems of the Blyth constituency and the Northern Region; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology (Mr. Nicholas Ridley)The Government will continue assistance to the development areas and will have regard to the special problems of the Northern Region.
§ Mr. MilneI congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his appointment. Is he aware that statements have already been made by the Chairman of the Northum- 300 berland County Council to the effect that the firms being attracted to the North-East are the wrong sort of firms? Will he use his personal influence to assure the noble Lord that he was talking nonsense?
§ Mr. RidleyI am grateful to the hon. Member for his kind words about myself. When the Government's review of regional policy has been completed we shall see how best to attract the jobs that are certainly needed in the North-East, and in the hon. Member's constituency in particular.