§ Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will restore special development area status to areas in Mid-Glamorgan, in view of the increase of 80 per cent. in unemployment since May 1979; and if he will give particular consideration to the Aberdare area because of the male unemployment in excess of 17 per cent. which exists there.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Government's policy is to concentrate regional assistance on the areas of greatest need. All Mid-Glamorgan has either special development or development area status, and I am satisfied that this gives appropriate recognition to the particular circumstances of the county relative to the rest of the country.