§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the action his Department has taken to assist the Girvan Special Development Area following the closure of the Maxwell colliery at Dailly.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantMy Department has continued to draw the attention of firms to the advantages of investing in the Girvan area, where the highest level of regional financial incentives is available, and to co-operate with the local authority in its efforts to attract new firms to the Grangestone Industrial Estate. Employment is still building up at the DTI advance factory which was allocated earlier this year. It is encouraging that unemployment in the Girvan employment exchange area is now 5.6 per cent. compared with 7.3 per cent. in September last year.