§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Industry in view of the fact that unemployment in the West Midlands has trebled in the last two years, if he will now consider a programme of advance factory building for the West Midlands.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieThe Local Employment Act 1972 confines the building of advance factories to the development and intermediate areas. As the West Midlands, with the exception of the Oswestry intermediate area, is not so designated it is not open to me to consider such a building programme.