It is already clear that the Government's fresh proposals for
assisting the special and depressed areas will not have an easy passage. The White Paper issued this week consists of a fairly comprehensive review of what has already been done or attempted and a somewhat shadowy outline of the new expedients proposed. The principle of direct financial assistance is conceded but the amount to be provided is not to exceed £2,000,000. Such provision must necessarily seem exiguous to a House of Commons which has just voted astronomical sums for the expansion of the defence services. If the Opposition parties are wise they will leave it to Conservative back-benchers from the industrial north to make the running. Many of the younger Conservatives, even those who do not sit for the districts affected, are deeply concerned about this problem. Some of them have been at considerable pains to explore the Special Areas and study the conditions for themselves,
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