§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will specify the factors taken into account in deciding which areas receive assisted area status; which factors are most relevant to which category; and what is the degree of importance attached to each factor.
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§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe statutorily prescribed factors are
all the circumstances actual and expected, including the state of employment and unemployment, population changes, migration and the objectives of regional policies ".They apply to all three categories of assisted areas within Great Britain. The importance of individual factors depends on the circumstances of the case concerned although unemployment and prospective unemployment are usually particularly important.