§ 15. Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reconsider the boundaries for development and assisted-area status in Devon.
§ Mr. LeighThe Government intend to conduct a full review of the assisted areas—for all of Great Britain—early in the next Parliament.
§ Mr. SpellerAfter the general election, will my hon. Friend give priority to consideration of rather more remote areas, like Ilfracombe, Barnstaple or South Molton that have rural or coastal connections? Should not the Government be considering places where rail and air communications are poor and where the reduction in the defence programme is causing employment problems?
§ Mr. LeighMy hon. Friend is a very effective constituency Member. I know that he lobbies hard on behalf of his constituents. Indeed, he has already brought two delegations to see me. I am aware of his constituency's problems, and I promise that as soon as this review is held we shall urgently consider them. He spoke generally of the problems of rural areas and less-favoured areas. It is interesting that since I have been the Minister responsible for regional policy, regional spending has increased from £506 million in 1990 to £534 million in 1991–92. That shows an elementary fact of political science: that when one becomes a Minister one does the opposite of what one previously promised.