asked the Secretary of State for Industry to what principal cause he attributes the wide differences in the level of Government spending on regional assistance per head of the population in regions with similar high levels of unemployment such as the South-West and the Northern Regions; and if he proposes to take any steps to reduce these differences.

The amount of expenditure on preferential regional assistance to industry depends upon the grading of the assisted areas concerned and upon industry's response to the incentives on offer.