§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many jobs were lost in the West Midlands region because of the outflow of firms from 1945 to the time of the latest survey for which figures are available;
(2) if, in the period 1945 to 1965, more firms have moved out of than into the West Midlands region; and to what extent there has been a loss of growth in industrial development.
§ Mr. HefferNo information is available showing how many jobs have been lost in the West Midlands as a result of firms moving from the region. In the period 1945–1965 more firms moved out of the West Midlands than into it. One must bear in mind that the growth of a firm in a new location cannot necessarily be taken as a loss to the West Midlands, since the growth might well not have taken place there at all had it not moved out of the region.