§ Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the effect on unemployment in (a) Wakefield and (b) the west Yorkshire areas of the Government's revised regional assistance policy and the new assisted area map.
§ Mr. Trippier[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1984. c. 56]: As stated in the White Paper "Regional Industrial Development" (Cmnd. 9111) the aim of the policy is the reduction, on a stable long-term basis, of regional imbalances in employment opportunities. These imbalances are manifested in economic activity and migration rates as well as in unemployment. It is not possible to forecast the impact on unemployment in particular areas.