asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the new proposed index of regional deprivation prepared for the European Communities.

The European Commission is expected shortly to complete its third periodic report on the social and economic situation and development of the regions of the Community. I understand that this will include a table of values of a synthetic index purporting to measure the intensity of regional problems in each region of the Community.The publication of the Commission's report will be a matter for the Commission itself.