§ Ms. Quinasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of the decline in regional development grant payments to the north-east of England results from changes in development and special development areas since 1980, what proportion results from a fall in investments by manufacturing industry in the region and what proportion results from changes in the scheme itself.
§ Mr. AtkinsIt is not possible to quantify separately the effects of these various factors on the level of regional development grant payments in the north-east. Between 1980 and 1984, however, the proportion of the region's working population covered by development and special development areas—the latter status being abolished in November 1984—fell from nearly 100 per cent. to around 80 per cent.
The north-east region's share of RDG payments in Great Britain in 1986–87 was higher than in the preceding four years and has risen further in the first six months of 1987–88.