HC Deb 02 December 1980 vol 995 c142W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what consideration caused him to cause Ormskirk and Skelmersdale to lose intermediate area status when the number of people registered as unemployed in each town exceeds that of Kirkham, Lytham and St. Anne's which are to keep the status.

Mr. David Mitchell

The decision that the Ormskirk travel-to-work-area—TTWA—should become a non-assisted area in August 1982 was made following the Government's thorough review of all assisted areas in 1979. Exceptionally, however, within the TTWA, Skelmersdale—in common with certain other new towns—is to retain special development area status.