§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to the statement by the Under-Secretary of State on 28 June, Official Report, c. 728, concerning the loss of assisted area status for Derbyshire and his meeting with a deputation representing the county council, on what date the leader and chief executive of Derbyshire county council were invited to attend the meeting referred to; and if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the invitation sent and the replies received.
§ Mr. MacGregor[pursuant to his reply, 30 July 1982, c. 794]: As I told the House in the Adjournment debate on intermediate area status for Derbyshire—[Vol. 26, c. 729]—because of the pressure of time all the arrangements for me to meet the deputation were made by telephone. I agreed in the week beginning 14 June to a meeting at the request of my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost) who himself notified the county council and was able to confirm to my private office on the afternoon of Thursday 17 June that the arrangements were acceptable to the council.
My office was informed only on 22 June, the day of the meeting that the leader and chief executive would not, after all, attend the meeting.