asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give an assurance that Carlisle and Barrow will remain assisted areas until 31 July 1982; and if he will give special financial assistance to the area until that date to compensate for the cessation of the special temporary employment programme on 31 March.

The Carlisle and Furness travel-to-work areas (TTWAs) become intermediate areas on 1 August this year and (subject to review) non-assisted areas on 1 August 1982. The special temporary employment programme will continue to be available in both these TTWAs until 1 August 1980 and the Manpower Services Commission will honour its commitments to programmes approved before that date. As unemployment in these two TTWAs is lower than in parts of the non-assisted areas no further assistance is justified.