asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of applications and approvals for industrial development certificates by firms in Trafford Park in each of the seven years up to April 1973; and what is his estimate for the current year.

Statistics in respect of industrial development certificates are related to employment exchange areas. The figures for Stretford EEA are as follows:

Year ending 30th April	Certificates issued
1967	11
1968	25
1969	22
1970	18
1971	13
1972	6
1973	6

A further eight applications were approved in the period ended 30th November 1973. The number of refusals prior to May 1969 is not available; no applications have been refused since May 1969. Exemption limits for industrial development certificates were raised in December 1970 and July 1972.