§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimate he has made of the effect on employment levels in the development areas of excluding the distributive trades from the Regional Employment Premium and what statistics are available in this regard; what consideration he is giving to extending payment of the premium to the distributive trades in these areas; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alan WilliamsA subsidy on employment in the distributive trades would be much less effective than a subsidy to manufacturing industries in improving the relative economic position of the development areas. Moreover, it would be much more likely to require a compensating increase in taxation. The Government do not therefore propose to extend the Regional Employment Premium to the distributive trades.