§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimate he has made of the net increase in new jobs provided in the development areas since the beginning of 1965.
§ Mr. UrwinMeaningful estimates of the number of new jobs created as a result of the programme of incentives in the development areas are not possible. Applicants for industrial development certificates issued in the development areas since the beginning of 1965 estimated that nearly 270,000 additional jobs would be created when the projects were fully manned. Overall, employment in these areas declined in the three years up to mid-1967, partly due to contraction in employment in traditional industries, notably coalmining. In the whole of Scotland, Wales and the Northern Region total employment in the extractive industries and in railways fell by 110,000 in that period.