§ 46. Miss WILKINSONasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his decision 442 that the North-East Coast is unsuitable for coal distillation plants, he will consult with the President of the Board of Trade and inform the town council of Jarrow whether it is desirable to proceed on the suggested scheme for the erection of such a plant in Jarrow?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)The suggestion that Jarrow might be a suitable place for a hydrogenation plant was first made by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. A. Edwards) during the Debate on the Board of Trade Vote last week. My right hon. Friend in replying did not express any opinion as to the suitability of the Jarrow site for a scheme of this kind, but said that he would do everything he could to push forward any proposals that were made to him for the utilisation of the site, whether for a hydrogenation plant or for any other industrial purpose. I indicated in the course of a recent speech that if the hydrogenation process can show the results for which we hope, the question of setting up plants additional to the one now working at Billingham would have to be vigorously pursued. But in the event of Government assistance being found necessary for such additional plants, I had to point out that in selecting sites one of the considerations would necessarily be the vulnerability from possible attacks in the event of war.
§ Miss WILKINSONIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, when his right hon. Friend received a deputation from Jarrow, this was one of the suggestions that he threw out? In view of his statement, is there any use whatever in the Jarrow Council going on making plans?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am very much afraid the hon. Lady did not read my speech, but only glanced at it. I never said a single word which would justify the opening phrase used in her question. I entirely support the views of the President of the Board of Trade. All that I said in Wales, and all that I shall say, is that once the hydrogenation process is proved a commercial success, I hope we shall see a large number of units erected. I hope there will be more in her area, but it is perfectly obvious that there must also be other units in other parts of the country for the purpose of the general defence of the country.
§ Miss WILKINSONIf we are dealing, as we must be, with long-range business on such a large scale, does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that a statement like that simply damns the plan from the beginning? Are we to understand that the north-east is being ruled out on the point of vulnerability? Cannot we have some statement from the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROf course, it is not ruled out. If the hon. Lady will look at my speech she will see no word in it to justify that.
§ Mr. SHINWELLWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are other parts of Durham less vulnerable for this purpose than Billingham itself?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a different question.