§ 25. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards areas of above average unemployment in regions of below average unemployment.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithThe Government attach the greatest importance to promoting full employment and an effective regional development policy. Our local officers do everything they can to help workers who register with us to find employment, including the offer of training opportunities, where appropriate.
§ Mr. JuddIs the hon. Member aware that while there is still widespread concern about the Government's policy towards the main development regions, evidence is also anxiously awaited on precisely what the Government will do about the serious problem of relatively high unemployment in otherwise prosperous regions?
§ Mr. SmithYes. As I said in previous Answers, this is one of the matters that we have under active consideration. Questions of regional policy should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology, but we are not unaware of the problem to which the hon. Member referred.