Regional Policy

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 July 1979.

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Photo of Mr Bob Cryer Mr Bob Cryer , Keighley 12:00, 24 July 1979

I am grateful to the right hon. Member for Crosby (Mr. Page). As a former Chairman of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, obviously his remarks are relevant and to the point. We understand this process, because it occasionally occurs. People outside would regard it as plainly daft to pass an order which is defective, knowing that an amending order will be processed in three months' time. In addition, the people affected by the order may well find that they have been given misleading guidance by the order and be discouraged from making application for regional grants which they are perfectly entitled to do, grants which hon. Members have indicated tonight are relevant and important.

If that is so, it seems to me quite wrong for the House to put through an order which could be misleading, discouraging and which we know full well will be corrected at the end of the recess. Therefore, I urge the Secretary of State to withdraw the order and substitute a full and proper order, so that the House is not brought into disrepute and its legislative processes can be seen for what they are—clear and unambiguous.