To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to dispatch his Department's new assisted areas map to the European Commission; and when he expects to secure its approval.

[holding answer 27 May 1993]: Proposals should be submitted to the European Commission shortly. I cannot anticipate how long they will take to complete their consideration.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the dates being used in the statistical analysis of unemployment that informs his Department's review of the assisted areas.

[holding answer 27 May 1993]: As the consultation document made clear, unemployment measures are the major criteria for the review. A number of relevant unemployment statistical series are being taken into account.