§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Industry why he has decided that Lancaster is not to be given assisted area status in the same way as Merseyside.
§ Mr. David MitchellBecause the Lancaster intermediate area does not have problems on the scale which justify special development area status.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Industry what will be the effect of the withdrawal of intermediate area status from the Lancaster travel-to-work area on employment in the Lancaster area.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Lancaster travel-to-work area is to remain an intermediate area.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the Lancaster district council has made representations over the failure of the Government to designate Lancaster a special development area.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have received no such representations from the Lancaster district council.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will quantify the effects in financial and job terms of his statement and the accompanying written answer of Tuesday 17 July and their effect on the engineering textile, footwear, chemical, plastics, timber component, food, and metal industries in Lancaster.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is not practicable to estimate the effects of regional policy changes on future investment and employment in specific industries in particular regions.