asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the number of advance factories occupied in the Blyth constituency and the Northern Region during the past five years and the number of new jobs provided in that period.

39 advance factories have been occupied in the Northern Region of which five are in the Blyth constituency, providing so far 4,670 and 920 new jobs respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the number of firms which have since 18th June notified him that they have ceased to pursue their interest in moving into the Northern Region.

Only one such case has been notified. This firm decided to postpone a project before the changes announced on 27th October by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to encourage an increase in the number of industrial inquiries for relocation in the Northern Region.

I would like to see industry showing increased interest in all the assisted areas. I will do what I can to augment local efforts to bring the advantages of these areas to the attention of industry.