§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the itinerary of the Minister of State's visit to Liverpool on 25 and 26 August was not made available to hon. Members representing Liverpool constituencies.
§ Mr. Norman LamontMy private secretary wrote to the hon. Member on 22 August in the usual manner to inform him of the visit. Letters went also to the hon. Members for Birkenhead and Bootle. A tour of Knowsley industrial park was added to the programme at very short notice and I must apologise to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) that he was not informed of this.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's visit to Liverpool on 25 and 26 August.
§ Mr. Norman LamontDuring my visit I was pleased to open the Bootle information technology centre. I also held discussions with Merseyside task force, viewing the initiative underway at Knowsley industrial park; and Merseyside development corporation, with whom I toured the garden festival site and the BAT Industries new enterprise workshops.
150WI was most encouraged by the progress which is being made to tackle the long-standing problems of the area.