§ 21. Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will reintroduce assisted area status for Greater Manchester.
§ Mr. TrippierSuccessive Governments have designated assisted areas by reference to the circumstances in individual travel-to-work areas and this continues to be the case. I am satisfied that on present evidence the current assisted area gradings of the eight travel-to-work areas in greater Manchester are appropriate to their circumstances.
§ Mr. LloydIs the Minister aware of how badly Greater Manchester has suffered over the past two years because of Government policies? Is he further aware that the enterprise zone in Trafford park has been a cosmetic exercise that has failed and that the Greater Manchester area, unless given practical assistance by the Government, is doomed to further decline?
§ Mr. TrippierPerhaps I was a little kind to the hon. Gentleman in my reply to his substantive question. If he had done a little more research, he would have realised that there are some travel-to-work areas within the Greater Manchester county that are assisted. For example Bolton and Leigh are intermediate areas and Rochdale and Wigan are development areas. I have said before, in a previous Question Time, that regional policy is being reviewed and that it is too early to speculate on the outcome.