HC Deb 23 July 1984 vol 64 c483W
Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider a system of determining regional assistance that takes into account unemployment measured by local government area of authorities administering education and social services.

Mr. Trippier

The objective of regional industrial policy is to reduce disparities in employment opportunities on a stable long term basis. In designating assisted areas it therefore makes sense to use the best available measure of individual areas' need for jobs—unemployment rates whose calculation must take account of known commuting patterns rather than of administrative boundaries.