§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the recent Report of the North West Economic Planning Council:
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he is taking, and will take, with regard to the recommendations made by the North West Economic Planning Council on the need for special steps in those parts of the region which are suffering from such problems as the decline of staple industries and falling employment opportunities; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what action he is taking concerning the recommendation in the North West Economic Planning Council's recent report with regard to encouraging the replacement of unsuitable and badly-sited 185W industrial premises by new ones, not necessarily near to old premises, but where the industry can grow in an efficient location; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consideration he is giving to the reference in the recommendations of the recent report of the North West Economic Planning Council to the disparity between new public investment in construction per head of population in the North-West and in other regions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what action he is taking with regard to the recommendations in the recent report of the North West Economic Planning Council that the declaration of smoke control areas should be mandatory upon at least all urban authorities in the region and that a greater attack should be mounted on other forms of pollution; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what action he proposes to take concerning the recommendation in the recent report of the North West Economic Planning Council that grants should be made for enabling local authorities to improve the general environment in selected areas and for the work to be done by teams working systematically through the district; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what action he is taking with regard to the recommendation in the recent report of the North West Economic Planning Council, that a grant should be paid for the reclamation of derelict land to specially defined dereliction areas; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the recommendations in the North West Planning Council's report concerning the siting and development of new cities and towns in the North-West.
(5) what action he proposes to take concerning the North West Economic Planning Council's recommendation that there should be special grants to cover about three-quarters of the cost of rehabilitating houses, of 30 to 60 years of age, in selected areas, which with improvement can have a considerably longer life; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister of Transport how his priorities for road improvements in the North-West compare with those listed in the recommendations reached on this matter by the North West Economic Planning Council; and if he will make a statement in the light of the Council's recent report.
§ Mr. UrwinI have been asked to reply.
We congratulate the North West Economic Planning Council upon their valuable report "Strategy II" published on 12th June. The Government are grateful for the work put into the report and are giving careful consideration to the Council's proposals. The Government's views will be made known as soon as is practicable.