asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the importance of regional planning and the need for full information on which to base it, he will take steps to publish average weekly earnings of male manual workers in the north-east of England Development Area for a suitable date in 1964.

Figures for the northeast of England Development Area are not available. This area, however, accounts for some 90 per cent. of the insured population of northern region for which figures of earnings of adult male manual workers are regularly published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette and the quarterly publication "Statistics on Incomes, Prices, Employment and Production".

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is extremely difficult to make comparisons between areas such as the North-East, which are receiving economic aid, and areas such as Norfolk, which may well deserve such aid, because comparative figures are not available? Is he prepared to take steps to secure such figures?

We will certainly keep the matter under review. This is a rather complicated subject, but we will give it our attention.