§ Lord Swinfenasked her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will now undertake a review of the assisted areas map; and whether there will be a period of public consultation.
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§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)The assisted areas map was last drawn in 1984. In consultation with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister for Industry have decided to review it. The revised map will in due course have to be cleared with the European Commission, and the Minister for Industry plans to put proposals to them later in the year.
A consultation paper on the arrangements for the review and the criteria which will be taken into 82WA account in considering changes to the map has been prepared. The Minister for Industry has placed copies in the Library and copies are also available from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Scottish and Welsh Offices.
The problems and needs of all areas will be carefully considered in the review. There will be a period of public consultation. Local organisations and other bodies wishing to make representations should send these either to the appropriate DTI regional office for areas in England or to the Scottish or Welsh Offices before the end of September 1992.