HC Deb 05 May 1932 vol 265 cc1283-4
53. Mr. LUNN

asked the President of the Board of Trade the towns or localities where the new industries have been established in Great Britain as a result of the new Import Duties; the number of people employed; and whether any of them have been or are to be established in the neighbourhood of Leeds or Wakefield?

55. Mr. NEIL MACLEAN

asked the President of the Board of Trade the districts within which are situated the 50 new industries which have been established in this country during the past six months; the total amount of new capital invested; whether any of this new capital has been provided from foreign sources; and, if so, how much?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Hore-Belisha)

As I stated during the Debate on the Board of Trade Vote on 14th April last, the Department at that time had knowledge of 43 new concerns which had been established in this country by or with the assistance of foreign firms and gave particulars of the kinds of manufacture. Of these, 30 are in the Greater London area, five in Lancashire and Yorkshire, six in the Midlands and two in other areas. The industries carried on by these undertakings include various textile trades, such as furnishing fabrics and ribbons; hosiery and knitwear; various metal and electrical trades, leather, toilet products, and miscellaneous trades. My right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) in a reply given on 26th April that the number of these concerns had then increased to 50, and since that date the Department has received information of seven further cases, making a total of 57. Of the additional 14 undertakings, eight are in the Greater London area, three in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and three in the Midlands. The trades involved include hosiery, ribbons, and fancy leather goods. Arrangements have been made in order to ensure that the particulars of this movement of foreign manufacturers are kept up-to-date, and I hope to be in a position to furnish further information on the subject at a later date, including the numbers employed. It is not possible to state the amount and the origin of the capital employed in these concerns, the majority of which are private undertakings under no obligation to supply information of this kind to Government Departments. With regard to the last part of the question by the hon. Member for Rothwell (Mr. Lunn) the Board of Trade have not yet had their attention drawn to any cases in the neighbourhood of Leeds or Wakefield.

Mr. LAWSON

How many pits have the Government closed down?

Mr. RHYS DAVIES

Do we understand that in due course we shall get very definite information about the actual location of every one of these new factories, and, if so, at what date can we expect that information?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Of course, the first question does not arise out of this at all. With regard to the second question, it is the intention of the Board of Trade to take the House of Commons fully into its confidence.

Major NATHAN

Will the hon. Gentleman at the same time take the House of Commons into his confidence as to the number of old businesses that are being closed down?