§ Dr. David Owenasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the difficulty of separating regional planning from regional development, he will transfer from the Board of Trade to the Department of Economic Affairs responsibility for all development area policy.
§ The Prime MinisterThe responsibility of the Board of Trade for the distribution of industry is one of a number of executive functions supporting regional policy—others, for example, lie in the fields of physical planning, housing, transport and taxation. There is, of course, already the fullest liaison between Departments in these matters and I see no advantage in making the particular transfer suggested by my hon. Friend.