§ Q1. Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Lancashire.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)I visited Manchester last Novem- 1668 ber, and have at present no plans for a further visit to Lancashire.
§ Mr. DavidsonIs the Prime Minister aware that unemployment in Lancashire is uncomfortably high and in some areas is the highest since before the war? Does not he think that it is time to introduce some positive regional incentives and to put an end to the depressing stories from Lancashire of cut-backs, closures and industrial decline that we have heard over the past few months?
§ The Prime MinisterAs part of Lancashire is a development area, and other parts are intermediate areas, firms have the inducements to invest there. As a result of the Budget, there will be opportunities for firms to expand and to take advantage of the inducements in the two areas.
§ Mrs. KellettIs my right hon. Friend aware how delighted the citizens of the county town of Lancaster were to welcome him on 12th February, how impressed they were with his interest in the matters brought to his notice both by the City and by the university, and how much they will welcome him whenever he chooses to come again?
§ The Prime MinisterI thoroughly enjoyed my useful visit.
§ Mr. ThorpeIn regard not only to Lancashire but to the development areas generally, can the Prime Minister say what are his expectations as to the potential reduction of unemployment by the end of this year as a result of his right hon. Friend's Budget?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that one can set out the impact of Budget measures purely in terms of development or intermediate areas. The information is not available.