§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment exchange areas exist in each of the intermediate areas; and how many in each intermediate area have an unemployment rate greater than that necessary to qualify for consideration as a development or special need area.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI have been asked to reply. The number of employment office areas in the intermediate areas is as follows:
Intermediate Areas No. of Employment Office Areas North West … 82(1) Yorkshire and Humberside … 59 North Wales … 7 South East Wales … 5(2) North Midlands … 8 High Peak … 3 North Lines … 5 South Western … 6 Oswestry … 1 Notes (1) Excluding that part of Skelmersdale employment office area designated as a New Town which has Special Development Area status.
(2) Including only that part of Abergavenny employment office area which is in Gwent.
Designation of development or special development area status is considered in accordance with the statutory criteria specified in Section 1(2) of the Local Employment Act 1972, as amended, and Section 1(4) of the Industry Act 1972. Unemployment rates are not the only factor to be taken into account.