§ Mr. LAWSONasked the Minister of Labour the conditions under which an area is termed depressed; and what concessions are made to such areas?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe term "depressed areas" is used by the Department to denote those areas which have suffered most from severe and prolonged unemployment, and to which the facilities of the industrial transference scheme apply. Almost all these areas also enjoy a preference, other things being equal, in the allocation of Government contracts, which applies also to other areas satisfying the conditions set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) on the 9th March last. I am sending the hon. Member a summary of the industrial transference facilities and lists of the areas.