HC Deb 25 February 1971 vol 812 cc235-6W
Mr. Armstrong

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are now used for the designation of special development areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Anthony Grant

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) today.

Mr. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the factors that determined his selection of areas as meriting Special Development Area status.

Mr. Anthony Grant

The same factors as were indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) on 22nd February.—[Vol.812, c.31.]

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria he employed in deciding to make changes in the number of special develoment areas and in the operational grant available under the Local Employment Acts as anounced on 18th February, 1971.

Mr. Anthony Grant

These changes were made to deal more effectively with the problems of high and persistent unemployment, especially among men, in the older industrial areas of the development areas. The higher operational grant is intended to increase the atractiveness of those areas to incoming industry.