§ Mr. Mawbyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now reconsider allocating additional public expenditure for infrastructure works in the Newton Abbot employment district, having regard to the high unemployment rate in the area.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerAlthough the unemployment rate in a number of places outside the assisted areas, including Newton Abbot, is currently higher than the national average, the Government think it right to concentrate additional public expenditure for infrastructure works in the development and intermediate areas. But expenditure on the improvement of standards of maintenance of the trunk road system is not restricted to the assisted areas and between £2 million and £3 million has been allocated to the South West Region for this purpose.