§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Prime Minister if she will publish a table showing shift-share estimates of the impact of regional policy on manufacturing employment in the north, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 1966 and 1973, 1973 and 1979 and 1979 and 1983, once account has been taken of national employment trends and regional employment differences due to industrial structure, urban-rural mix and the average size of firms.
§ The Prime MinisterThe information required to answer this question in such detail is not readily available. However, the Department of Trade and Industry is about to publish a paper which reviews the available evidence 159W on the effects of regional policy on manufacturing employment in the assisted areas. This Paper, entitled "Regional Industrial Policy: Some Economic Issues", will consider a number of studies which have used the shift share technique. A copy of the Paper will be placed in the Library.