§ 10. Mr. WHITELEYasked the Minister of Labour whether the Team Valley Trading Estate has commenced its operations; how many applications have been made; and how many are entirely new industries?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI am informed that work on the site of the North-Eastern Trading Estate has been in progress for some weeks. So far 110 applications have been received, of which 86 are in respect of enterprises new to the area or of new branches of undertakings already established in the area.
§ 12. Mr. RITSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the desirability of having further trading estates placed in a more central part of the county of Durham to ensure shorter and cheaper facilities for workers travelling to and from work?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe site of the present trading estate was selected by the board of the company after the most careful consideration as being the most suitable in the North-Eastern Special Area, having regard to all the relevant considerations. To establish a competing estate until the present one is approaching full development would not, I am afraid, be likely to be of advantage.
§ Mr. RITSONIs the Minister aware that the most distressed part of Durham is Bishop Auckland and the South-West area, which is nearly 40 miles from this estate, and would it not be a severe test of the workers who get employment there to travel 30 or 40 miles to their work? Would it not be much better to consider the distance that these people have to travel, and establish an estate in that area?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI am aware of the distance involved, but until one trading estate in the area is in full or considerable working operation it would be a pity to establish a competing estate elsewhere.
§ Mr. BATEYHow long will it be before the Ministry of Labour are prepared to 1892 consider establishing a new trading estate in South-West Durham?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI cannot give any time.