§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will undertake a special study of the social and economic problems confronting communities like that of the city of Portsmouth where earnings are often below the average for similar work in other parts of the country; and whether he will make a statement on the policy of his Department towards such areas.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkProposals for special studies of this kind are in the first instance a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. There is no evidence available to me that earnings in the Portsmouth area are substantially below the national average.