HC Deb 08 February 1971 vol 811 cc4-5
9. Mr. Bob Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the numbers of industrial inquiries for locations in the Northern Region outstanding on the first day of June 1970 and each subsequent month to date, with the anticipated number of jobs involved in each case.

Sir J. Eden

Figures are not readily available in the form requested but I am ciculating in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures of the number of inquiries received for industrial locations in the Northern Region for each of the months referred to. The number of jobs involved is not known.

Mr. Brown

Is the Minister aware that his Department's officers locally are seriously concerned about the fall-off in inquiries, and more so about the withdrawal of firms who were actively pursuing the idea of going into the Northern Region?

Sir J. Eden

The decline of interest in the development areas was apparent before the change of Government, and this represents the consequences of economic policies pursued by the previous Administration.

Following is the information:

Month Number of Inquiries
May … … … 19
June … … … 19
July … … … 24
August … … … 21
September … … … 10
October … … … 15
November … … … 12
December … … … 9