§ 113. Mr. Fordasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he has made a study of the effects upon price structures of development area subsidies; and what steps he is taking to ensure that existing indivisible firms situated in non-development areas are not placed at a commercial disadvantage as a result of Government policies with a consequential diminution of employment prospects and community development in those areas.
Mr. Alan WilliamsA close watch on prices is being kept by the Government Departments concerned. The reductions in manufacturers' prime costs effected by 325W development area subsidies should be increasingly reflected in their selling prices. The consequences for other parts of the country with slow economic growth are being examined by the Hunt Committee.