§ Mr. Dixonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the answer given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher), Official Report, 18 December 1979, column 133, before giving any further consideration to the question of Great Britain joining the European monetary system, in view of the high level of unemployment and the deteriorating economic situation in the North-East of England, if he will undertake to make a detailed investigation into the likely economic effects that the European monetary system would have on the North-East and other assisted areas of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Lawson[pursuant to his reply, 16 May 1980]: In the event of a decision being taken to join the exchange rate mechanism of the EMS, the Government will have regard to the effect on the United Kingdom economy as a whole, including the assisted areas.