§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he still intends to use unemployment as the prime criterion when defining the new map for assisted areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIn the White Paper, "Regional Industrial Development" (Cmnd. 9111) the Government invited views on the criteria for designating the assisted408W areas. Given that these criteria need to reflect the aim of reducing regional imbalances in employment opportunities, relative average unemployment rates are a prime example of the type of indicator needed.