§ 6. Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will undertake an official visit to the Doon Valley in South Ayrshire to meet local representatives about the discharge of his policy to support industrial development.
The Minister of State, Department of Industry (Mr. Alan Williams)Unfortunately, my existing commitments do not enable me to plan such a visit in the immediate future.
§ Mr. SillarsIs my right hon. Friend aware that the purpose of the invitation was to draw his attention to a serious defect in one aspect of regional policy, whereby administrative boundaries can harshly discriminate against an area with up to 35 per cent. male unemployment? Will he undertake a review of the procedures to ensure that such injustice does not happen again?
Mr. WilliamsI undertand the situation which has given rise to my hon. Friend's concern. Studies carried out indicate that the travel-to-work relationship in the area is with Ayr. Therefore, the Ayr travel-to-work area is the administrative boundary that we must use. I assure my hon. Friend that considerable financial help has been provided for the Ayr and Cumnock area—£6 million in selective assistance—which has given rise to substantially more investment projects and to 2,600 new jobs.