24. Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state the price that was paid for the Pallion site, Sunderland; the cost of clearing the site for building, and whether that expenditure was borne out of public funds; what was the rateable value of the site when last occupied; and what buildings, and at what cost, have since been erected upon it?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe price (including legal charges) paid for the Pallion site, in accordance with the valuation of the district valuer, was £6,210. In addition, 566 it is estimated that a sum of £1,500 will be payable as compensation to existing tenants as and when land leased to them is required for development. If the whole site is required for factories the cost of development will be about £11,500. To date, one factory has been completed and two others are in course of erection. The estimated cost of these factories is about £39,000, but it is not possible to estimate the expenditure involved if the whole site is eventually required for factories. The whole of the expenditure incurred will be borne by the Special Areas Fund. I have no information as to the rateable value of the site, which was previously in agricultural occupation as market gardens and allotments.