§ 36. Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the criteria for regional assistance take sufficient account of unemployment black spots.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe current assisted areas map, like its predecessor, is based on travel-to-work areas. As the closest available approximations to self-contained labour markets covering the whole country, these are both the most sensible basis for a policy aimed at encouraging additional employment opportunities in areas where they are most needed and the fairest way of making nationwide comparisons of areas' relative needs for such additional jobs.