HC Deb 09 November 1978 vol 957 cc289-90W
Mr. Ginsburg

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has completed his consideration of the future of the British urban development services unit.

Mr. Shore

Yes. In view of the limited success which the unit has achieved since it was established I have decided that it should be wound up. I am, however, satisfied that a number of overseas governments remain interested in drawing on the experience and skills of our new towns. My Department has taken over responsibility for the unit's outstanding commitments and will serve as a focal point to deal with any further inquiries for British new town development expertise. These requests will be channelled to the new town development corporations which has set up an overseas engage-

deprivation and also their concentration in parts of those districts. Averages for groups of complete districts can therefore be misleading.

The figures requested are shown in the table below:

ment committee to provide a co-ordinated response to such approaches.

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