HC Deb 16 February 1939 vol 343 cc1873-5
14. Mr. Batey

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of persons now employed on the Team Valley and St. Helen estates and how many of those numbers are men 18 years of age and over?

Mr. Brown

On 19th December, 1938, the latest date for which information is available the total number of persons employed in the factories on the Team Valley and St. Helen Auckland estates was 1,813 and 92 respectively. Of those numbers 691 and 22 were men 18 years of age and over.

18. Mr. Lipson

asked the Minister of Labour how many manufacturing firms have been established on the Treforest estate; and how many of these have been set up by refugees?

Mr. Brown

Thirty-seven industrial undertakings are now in occupation of factories and in production on the Treforest Trading Estate. Eighteen of these are of foreign origin.

Mr. Lipson

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that this is an example of history repeating itself, that alien settlers from abroad are once again providing work for our own people?

Mr. Brown

They do so in many cases.

28. Mr. W. Joseph Stewart

asked the Minister of Labour the amount spent up to date on the Team Valley Trading Estate, including the purchase price and the development costs; the number of factories erected and the number under construction; and the number of persons employed?

Mr. Brown

The total advances which have been made to the North-Eastern Trading Estates Company, Limited, in connection with the Team Valley Trading Estate amount to £1,560,000. Up to 31st December, 1938, the expenditure amounted to £1,480,000 made up as follows:

£
Site purchase 65,000
Development and Administration 870,000
Factory Construction 545,000
The number of factories erected is 102; of these 92 are in occupation by tenants of whom the great majority are already in production. Eleven more factories are in course of erection for prospective tenants who have agreed to lease them and another 11 have also agreed to lease factories which are about to be erected. In December, which is the latest date for which I have exact particulars the number of persons employed in the factories was 1,813. The number has since increased.

Mr. Westwood

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of these factories are producing light castings?

Mr. Brown

Not without notice.

Mr. Stewart

What number of people does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be employed on this estate at its completion?

Mr. Brown

I certainly could not say that, but I look forward 20 years hence to seeing a very large number of people employed there.