asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the rôle of his Department in encouraging industrial development in the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement.

My Department aims to promote the Government's industrial strategy both through our own policies and programmes and by encouraging local authorities to give industry priority across the whole range of their functions. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I will shortly be issuing guidance to all local authorities on the ways in which they can help industry.