asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the percentage of unemployment in Bradwell, Hathersage and Bakewell in Derbyshire; and how this compares with similar figures for 1967 and 1964.

At June, 1968, June, 1967, and June, 1964, the percentage rates of unemployment for Bakewell were 1·7, 1·4 and 1·1, respectively.

Bradwell and Hathersage form very small parts of the area covered by the Sheffield employment exchange. At the same dates, the percentage rates, which can only be calculated for the whole of the travel-to-work area comprising Sheffield, Attercliffe and Woodhouse, were 1·7, 1·7 and 0·7.

Would not the Under-Secretary of State agree that his reply shows that the figure has gone up since 1964, and will he do his best to encourage industry to the area?

Whilst I acknowledge that there has been a relative increase in unemployment in the area the hon. Gentleman mentions, it would be very remiss of me at this moment, with the undoubtedly high unemployment there is in the development areas, to say that we will look too kindly upon applications for I.D.C.s in areas where unemployment is still only 1·7 per cent., while we still have some areas where it is much higher.