§ 9. Sir K. WOODasked the Lord Privy Seal whether any progress has been made with the scheme to reduce unemployment by giving inducements to industries to establish themselves in the distressed areas?
Mr. THOMASThere is nothing which I can usefully add at the present time 822 to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Gentleman on this subject on the 26th November last.
§ Sir K. WOODMay I take it that the idea has been abandoned?
Mr. THOMASNo. The idea is not abandoned and ought not to be abandoned. It is not a party question to try to induce an industry to set up an organisation or branch in a distressed area. Therefore, although I have failed so far to induce them, that will not prevent me from pressing the matter.
§ Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRHas the right hon. Gentleman decided what form the inducement is to take?
§ Sir K. WOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman recall that his idea was that the State should give financial inducements to these undertakings to go to the necessitous areas? Is not that the idea?
Mr. THOMASThat is just the reverse of what I said. I distinctly informed the House that it might be possible to do it in a number of ways: First, there was the question of the land to be purchased; and secondly, the question of the rates. My experience has been that, when I had got over both those difficulties and was nearly inducing a firm, there was difficulty about the water supply. All these things must be considered by the firms, but that will not deter me from trying to persuade them.