§ 11. Mr. Sextonasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the findings of the investigation by the independent expert who has visited South-West Durham to inquire into the whole question of possible development of industry in that district on the invitation of the former Commissioner of the Special Areas, Sir Malcolm Stewart, in the summer of 1936?
§ Mr. E. BrownWith the concurrence of the Commissioner I am having a copy of this report placed in the Library. I should add that it must not be assumed that the Commissioner or the Government necessarily endorse the proposals made in the report.
§ 12. Mr. Sextonasked the Minister of Labour whether any progress has been made in the voluntary drainage scheme recommended in paragraph 188 of the third report of the Commissioner for the Special Areas, England and Wales, by which drainage it would be possible to set free for working millions of tons of coal in South-West Durham and give employment to many unemployed miners?
§ Mr. BrownWhile I must not be understood as accepting the implications in the latter part of the hon. Member's question, I would refer him to the answer given on 1st December last by my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines to the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. W. Joseph Stewart). Since that reply was given, I understand that the Commissioner for the Special Areas has discussed the problem with the South-West Durham Development Board and certain tentative inquiries are being made in the matter. It has not, however, proved possible, up to the present, for any further action to be taken.
51. Miss Wardasked the Prime Minister whether he will invite some responsible industrialists to discuss the possibility of setting up a board to advise on the establishment of works to carry out new processes in the Special Areas, the finance to be provided out of the Special Areas Reconstruction Act?
§ The Prime Minister(Mr. BALDWIN)The Commissioners for Special Areas are already devoting considerable attention to the possibility of securing new 1336 industrial undertakings for the Special Areas, including undertakings carrying out new processes, and my hon. Friend is no doubt aware that: the Commissioners have recently appointed industrial advisers to assist them in this matter.
Miss WardI thank my right hon. Friend for that answer, but in view of the fact that we do not seem to have made much progress, will he consider the matter from the specific point of view indicated in the question?
§ Miss WilkinsonIs the Prime Minister not aware that since 1932 he has been saying that these matters are being considered, and considered and considered, but that just nothing is happening in these Special Areas?