§ 40. Mr. Andrew MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will assess the effect of regional planning on employment trends.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe Government do not carry out regional planning. Regional economic policy helps industrial change and encourages new businesses and jobs in areas which have been dependent on declining industries. It is difficult to measure precisely the effects of regional economic policy on employment trends but the Government aims to ensure that regional policy measures are economical and effective in creating genuine jobs.