§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the percentage increase or decrease in manufacturing in the North-East Development Area when comparing 1973 with 1970; and if he will 7W make a statement on the prospects for that area in 1975 and 1976.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieThe decrease in manufacturing employment between 1970 and 1973 in the Northern Standard Planning region was 3.2 per cent. This figure, however, may be misleading as an indicator of the change in the level of manufacturing activity unless taken in conjunction with statistics relating to net output by region, but these are not yet available beyond 1971. Since the whole of the region has either development or special development area status, the Government are able to offer the full range of measures to help attract new employment to the area.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the amount of public money expended during each of the last three years to encourage the movement of industry to the North-East Development Area.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieInformation in the form requested is not available, but annual amounts of expenditure on regional preferential assistance in the Northern Development Area for the latest available three-year period were:
£ million 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 81 71 92 All expenditure is gross.
Regional preferential expenditure on some small items has been excluded because it cannot be broken down by area. No account has been taken of the differential value of tax allowances which were available at various times during the period.