§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will review the areas whose assisted area status was downgraded by his predecessor with particular reference to the towns and villages in the Grampian region, in view of the escalation of redundancies in these areas.
§ Mr. MacGregorMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, in his statement to the House on 28 June 1982 about assisted areas—[Vol. 26, c. 616]—referred to the Government's recognition of the need to maintain reasonable stability in regional policy if industry is to take account of it in making investment decisions. For this reason we do not envisage making any further changes in the assisted areas during the lifetime of this Parliament, other than in the most exceptional circumstances.