§ 24. Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will consider granting development area status to the Sandwell-Dudley travel-to-work area in view of the continuing increases in unemployment.
§ Mr. MacGregorWhile I recognise that the Dudley and Sandwell travel-to-work area has, in common with many other parts of the West Midlands, suffered a substantial increase in unemployment as a result of the world-wide recession, I am not convinced that the granting of assisted area status would be an appropriate response to the area's present problems.