§ 28 and 29. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will now make grants under Section 4 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945; available to local authorities in the Development Areas where unemployment is increasing;
(2) in view of the declinnig employment possibilities in the Rhymney Valley of South Wales, what is his present policy in regard to site clearance and amenity schemes submitted to him under Section 4 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945; and if he will invite the local authorities to submit such schemes.
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§ Mr. J. RodgersMy right hon. Friend is aware of the unemployment position in the Rhymney Valley, but he would not contemplate at present inviting local authorities there to submit site clearance and amenity schemes under Section 5 of the Distribution of Industry Act which, no doubt, the right hon. Gentleman has in mind. As regards Section 4 of the Act, I understand that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not consider that local authorities would comply with the statutory conditions for such assistance.