asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will arrange for the travel-to-work areas of Barnstaple and Bideford to return to development area status and for Ilfracombe to obtain special development status.

On present evidence of the situation in these travel-to-work areas relative to that in other parts of the country, I would not be justified in changing their assisted area status. My hon. Friend will recall the discussion in his recent Adjournment debate.