§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister of Technology what is the extent of Government financial aid being provided to help development areas in Lancashire, Cheshire and the High Peak in the current financial year; what effect he expects this aid to have on employment prospects in these areas; and how the level of current financial aid compares with that provided in the year 1963–64.
§ Mr. VarleyIn the seven months to the end of October, 1969, £8.5 million was offered under the Local Employment Acts to projects in the Merseyside development area : this was expected by the applicants concerned to give rise to144W nearly 9,000 jobs. Assistance offered in 1963–64 to Merseyside development districts totalled £2.1 million. separate figures are not available for those parts of Lancashire within the Northern Development Area. Figures for payments of investment grants in the current year are not yet available.