HC Deb 29 June 1983 vol 44 cc567-8
8. Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to review the assisted area status of the metropolitan borough of St. Helens.

The Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Trade (Mr. David Trippier)

No. On present evidence, I am satisfied that the travel-to-work areas within the metropolitan borough of St. Helens are correctly graded. However, I shall continue to keep a close watch on developments there.

Mr. Evans

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his elevation to the Front Bench. I have followed this subject with him for a long time and I wish him well in his new office.

Mr. Skinner

There is no need for all that.

Mr. Evans

Does the Minister agree that the answer that he has just given is somewhat at variance with that which his colleague gave to question No. 2? When he reconsiders his answer, will he realise that St. Helens is discriminated against on two counts? First, unlike the rest of Merseyside, it does not enjoy special development area status. Secondly, part of St. Helens — Newton-le-Willows—is the only part of Merseyside that does not enjoy assisted area status.

Mr. Trippier

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his kind comments despite his being at variance with the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

Unemployment is not the only criterion for assessing whether an area should be assisted or upgraded. Other considerations must be taken into account—such as the overdependence on a traditional industry, the ratio between unemployment and employment and, perhaps, a deterioration in the infrastructure. My hon. Friend the Minister of State said earlier that a review was taking place. It is too early to speculate on its outcome. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the community of St. Helens' enterprise trust for the work it is doing in the hon. Gentleman's constituency to encourage new business ventures.