§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage growth or fall of industrial production in Wales in the year 1966 calculated in comparison with 1965.
Yorks. and Humberside Northern West Midlands Number of i.d.c.s approved Area '000 sq. ft. Number of i.d.c.s approved Area '000 sq. ft. Number of i.d.c.s approved Area '000 sq. ft. 1965 … … 305 6,158 235 6,226* 355 5,025 1966 … … 304 7,640† 226 8,204* 375 6,441† 1967 (Jan./Sept.) … 361 7,301* 181 4,912* 377 5,819* * The figures of floor area include ancillary space. † The figures of floor area include ancillary space from mid-August, 1966. It is not the practice of the Board of Trade to publish statistics of the total number of applications received or refused or the total for regions which include congested areas as such figures would be misleading. Because of the tough i.d.c policy in the more congested areas, many firms do not apply formally or do not press their applications to the point of a refusal. In the period January, 1965, to September, 1967, one application was refused in the Northern Region and one in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.