§ 54. Mr. SUTCLIFFEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the desirability of setting up a special section of his Department to encourage the establishment of foreign industries in this country; and whether such duties could be carried out without material outlay?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir. Propaganda for the purpose of bringing the advantages of this country to the notice of foreign industrialists is organised by the Travel and Industrial Development Association of Great Britain and Ireland, and I see no reason to interfere with this arrangement.
§ Mr. SUTCLIFFEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider taking more active steps to attract new industries to this country; and does he not consider that such action would be fully justified?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe work of some of the development associations has certainly been admirable, and I should like to see those which are less active rise to the higher standard.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESWill the right hon. Gentleman, instead of encouraging foreign firms to come here, do something to encourage native businesses, especially in Lancashire?
§ 55. Mr. SUTCLIFFEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he possesses any statistics to show the number of new industries which have been attracted to this country in the last year, and the new factories which have been established?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANA survey of industrial development is being prepared in respect of the year 1934, and I hope to be able to publish the results in the course of the next few months.
§ Mr. PALINGWill the survey include statistics showing the number of industries which have declined and the number of factories which have ceased production?