§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to halt the continuing loss of industrial jobs in the Hackney area and bring forward proposals for creating new employment opportunities.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe loss of industrial jobs in Hackney and other parts642W of London is attributable to a number of factors, most of which are outside my direct responsibility. IDC policy was modified earlier this year to allow the speculative replacement of obsolete factories in urban areas, and the exemption limit applying to London—and the rest of the South-East—was raised to 12,500 sq. ft. from 1st May.