1. Mr. Whiteleyasked the Minister of Labour how many site companies have been formed in England and Wales; and whether they have been able to assist the distressed areas outside the Special Areas?
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. David Adams) yesterday.
Mr. WhiteleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that site companies were promised when the Special Areas (Amendment) Act was passed, and is he satisfied 1308 that the formation of one company to date can be considered satisfactory?
§ 3. Mr. Mathersasked the Minister of Labour how many site companies have been formed in Scotland; how many of these are operating in the unscheduled portion of the county of Linlithgow; and what numbers of men have thus been afforded employment?
§ Mr. BrownThe answer to the first part of the question is that no site companies have been formed, that is, under Section 5 of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, in Scotland. The second and third parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. MathersDoes the Minister not think that this points to the ineffectiveness of the legislation regarding site companies, and will he not, therefore, take into consideration the desirability of introducing amending legislation, particularly bringing the whole of the county of Lithlithgow under one form of means of assistance?
§ Mr. BrownThat is a matter, as the House well knew when it debated the subject, which depends in the first instance upon local initiative.