§ 16. Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will review the level of regional assistance available to west Cumbria.
§ Mr. TrippierNo, Sir. I am satisfied that an appropriate level of regional industrial assistance is available in west Cumbria.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIs the Minister aware that our development area status has brought us nothing in four years, apart from a small footwear factory, of which he has special knowledge? Is he further aware that we have failed miserably to attract the high-tech developments that other parts of the country have successfully been able to attract? Why does not the Minister put together a high-tech package, based on enterprise zones and special area status, to enable areas such as mine to benefit from the development that the Government say is the only route for industrial salvation in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. TrippierThe hon. Gentleman should not paint too black a picture. Over the past four years more than £100,000 has been put into the area through regional 575 development grants, which, as the hon. Gentleman knows are 15 per cent. of capital costs. Furthermore, there have been no redundancy notifications in the Workington travel-to-work area this year. As I said earlier, we shall, however, continue to monitor the area closely.