HC Deb 20 December 1971 vol 828 cc1114-5
43. Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were allocated in the special development areas in each year ended June, 1968 to 1971; how many were granted in the Northern Region; what was the total floor area involved; and how many jobs were estimated to accrue.

Mr. Anthony Grant

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Urwin

Does the Under-Secretary agree that in all probability the figures, which obviously I have not yet seen, will starkly reveal the complete failure of the Government's policies for the special development areas and will confirm that the decision taken earlier this year to make additional special development areas was nothing more than an empty gesture, as since then there has been little or no development?

Mr. Grant

The hon. Gentleman must study the figures. They reveal that the decline in the number of I.D.C.s started in about mid-1969 when the previous Administration ran away from industrial relations reform and at about the time when the hon. Gentleman became the Minister responsible for regional policy.

Dame Irene Ward

In the midst of all this to-ing and fro-ing argument about the North-East coast, may I ask the Under-Secretary when we shall have an answer to the proposals made some time ago by the North-East Development Council, because those proposals would deal with many of the problems to which hon. Members on both sides who represent constituencies on the North-East Coast want answers? So when shall we have the answer?

Mr. Grant

So far as I am aware, the representations of the North-East Development Council have been very carefully considered by my Department and replies have been given.

I.D.C.S APPROVED FOR SCHEMES OF 10,000 SQ. FT. AND OVER
I.D.C.S APPROVED FOR SCHEMES
Area Estimated Additional
Employment†
Year Number '000 sq. ft. Males Total
All SDAs* 1.7.67–30.6.68 239 13,741 17,100 26,450
1.7.68–30.6.69 293 16,200 22,010 30,410
1.7.69–30.6.70 248 12,544 17,250 25,100
1.7.70–30.6.71 215 12,328 11,390 17,280
Of which Northern SDAs* 1.7.67–30.6.68 113 6,430 9,440 13,900
1.7.68–30.6.69 133 8,575 10,370 14,240
1.7.69–30.6.70 112 6,067 10,210 13,960
1.7.70–30.6.71 90 3,514 4,470 5,790
* Includes all localities which are currently special development areas.
† Based on the applicants' estimate of the additional employment expected to arise when the projects are complete and fully manned.