§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy that any change in boundaries of travel-to-work areas, following the current review, which has the effect, in areas which are currently designated as assisted areas, of reducing the overall unemployment rate, will not automatically result in the removal of assisted area status.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIt is intended to continue to base the assisted area map on travel-to-work areas. The review of the map is fundamental: there will probably be greater changes than those simply resulting from changes in travel-to-work boundaries. In reaching his decisions on the assisted area map, my right hon. Friend will take into account all relevant factors. The aim will be for each travel-to-work area to have uniform status.