§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what forecast of unemployment and redundancies in the Merthyr area within the next 12 months was made in arriving at the decision to downgrade its special development area status.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have been asked to reply.
In reviewing the assisted areas, all the criteria required by the Industry Act 1972 were taken into account, including the actual and expected circumstances in the area, the state of employment and unemployment, population changes, migration and the objectives of regional policies.