§ 4. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in considering applications for Industrial Development Certificates, he will in future take into consideration average local wage levels as well as local unemployment.
§ Mr. JayEach application is considered on its merits, and all relevant factors are taken into account.
§ 9. Mr. Gurdenasked the President of the Board of Trade what priority his instructions on the issue of Industrial Development Certificates for the West Midlands conurbation accord to the overspill areas.
§ Mr. JayWe must give first priority to the needs of the development districts. Subject to that, we are prepared to look sympathetically at applications from West Midlands conurbation firms for i.d.c.s in places which are receiving overspill population from the conurbation and which need additional employment.
§ 10. Mr. Gurdenasked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for industrial development certificates from the West Midlands area have been refused in the last full year for which information is available.
§ Mr. Derek Pageasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent, in considering approval of industrial development certificates, he takes into account the average local earnings in the area concerned as well as the level of unemployment.
§ Mr. JayEach application is considered on its merits, and all relevant factors are taken into account.
§ Mr. G. Lloydasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his instructions for industrial development certificates in the West Midlands area cover small extensions to existing premises.
§ Mr. JayI have asked my regional controllers to look more critically at all I.D.C. applications in the really congested108W areas; but each case will receive individual scrutiny. Ties to existing activities, and the relative size of a proposed development, are factors which will be taken into account.