§ 12. Mr. JackTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will undertake a review of the impact on the Fylde coast area resulting from the removal of assisted area status.
§ Mr. AtkinsNo, Sir.
§ Mr. JackBecause of my hon. Friend's deep knowledge, care and concern for the affairs of Lancashire, I am sure he will realise that I and the other hon. Members serving the Fylde coast area are still deeply concerned about the level of unemployment. Does he agree that the key to reducing that is the starting of the second phase of the Peel industrial estate? The problems relating to English Industrial Estates in that venture mean that progress has been non-existent. Can his Department offer any hope of further options or ideas to enable industrial development to start in that area?
§ Mr. AtkinsAs my hon. Friend is fully aware, as a fellow Lancashire Member I understand the problems of that part of my hon. Friend's constituency. I have written to him making it clear that any involvement of English Industrial Estates must be dependent upon its being able to recover its costs. Since that letter I have been able to explore the possibility of further options and discuss them with my hon. Friend. If he cares to come to see me I am sure that we can find a way out of the problem.
§ Sir Peter BlakerIs my hon. Friend aware that the Fylde coast regularly has the highest unemployment in Lancashire? While I am grateful for what he has just said about the Peel industrial estate, will he consider, rather than diverting the land to retail industries — which would be contrary to the structure plan and contrary to policies of the Department of the Environment — whether it might be appropriate to encourage English Industrial Estates to divest itself of that part of the estate that has been partly developed so that it can be further developed by other companies?
§ Mr. AtkinsMy right hon. Friend, as ever, represents the interest of his constituents extremely well. His suggestion is one of the options that we shall consider.