§ 11. Mr. Murrayasked the Minister of Works the present position regarding the proposed new factory for Messrs. Ramar, Limited, Crook, County Durham; whether any date has been fixed for the completion of this work or can be given now; arid if he is aware that the local authority are anxious to see the erection of this building as early as possible, with the view of providing further employment in this district.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Belcher)I have been asked to reply. Negotiations which have been proceeding between the company and the North-Eastern Trading Estates, Ltd., are now nearing completion. Subject to satisfactory agreement, it is hoped 2487 to complete the factory before the end of the year. I am aware of the need for providing further employment in this district, and the company has been allocated temporary premises in Crook where they are employing over a hundred workers.
§ Mr. MurrayIs the Minister aware that the temporary accommodation is very limited, that this firm could employ at least another 400 people, that production could be much greater if they could have the new factory built, and that it is much better to have people employed and producing goods than drawing unemployment benefit and not being employed.
§ Mr. BelcherI am aware that there is a difference of about 500 between the panther employed now and the number who will be employed when the factory is completed. For that reason I am doing everything I possibly can to speed up the completion of the new factory.