§ 72. Mr. H. Boardmanasked the Minister of Technology whether, in view of the closure of Astley Green Colliery with 1,300 employees following the closure of Mosley Common Colliery with 2,800 employees in addition to the closure of textile mills, he is now prepared to grant development area status to the Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley area.
§ Mr. VarleyUnemployment in the area is below the national average and there are employment opportunities within reasonable travel-to-work distance. Given the urgent employment needs of other areas, I do not think that it would be right to designate the area as a development area.