asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on factory development in areas of high unemployment.

The Northern Ireland Department of Commerce, in its programme for the building of advance factories, gives priority to areas of high unemployment. We are satisfied that the current advance factory programme in these areas should be sufficient for any likely development. The Department's programme of advance purchase of land ensures that in the areas of high unemployment all reasonable requirements for industrial sites by the public and the private sectors can be satisfied with the minimum of delay.