HC Deb 17 October 1968 vol 770 c154W
35. Mr. Willey

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a further statement on the progress the Northern Economic Planning Council has made in its study of the prospects of the various sub-divisions of the region.

Mr. Frederick Lee

In recent months the Planning Council and Board have been concentrating on the preparation of a draft strategy for future economic development over the region as a whole. The Planning Board has also been engaged on the special development area studies called for in the White Paper on Fuel Policy.

36. Mr. Willey

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what progress has been made by the Northern Economic Planning Council in its investigation of the setting up of a large industrialised building factory in the Northern Region.

Mr. Frederick Lee

The discussions which the Chairman of the Planning Council has had with building component manufacturers and large-scale users, such as New Town managements and local authorities, suggest that prospects for development of this kind will be greater when further progress has been made towards the change over to the metric system.