§ 77. Mr. S. O. Daviesasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if the Government will refuse to permit new towns or cities to be built in the South-East of England or the Home Counties until new industries have been redeployed to the old industrial valleys of South Wales and to Mid-Wales, with a view to halting the depopulation of those parts.
§ Mr. AlbuMy right hon. Friend does not believe that the method suggested in the Question is the best way of achieving the desired result. The Government have already declared their intention in the National Plan of achieving a more balanced development between regions and in particular of bringing new industries to provide employment in areas where pits are closed but they also have a responsibility to ensure a balanced development within those regions where there are problems of providing for a substantial growth in population.