79. Mrs. Braddockasked the President of the Board of Trade what special steps are being taken to ensure that numerous firms, who have intimated their desire to expand their present factories, or commence new industries, in the Liverpool area, are given special facilities to do so, in order to reduce the abnormally high unemployment rate in the area; and if he is aware that those firms awaiting to extend or erect factories can absorb approximately 15,000 of Liverpool's unemployed.
§ Mr. H. WilsonI share my hon. Friend's concern at the unemployment position on Merseyside. With regard to new building projects, I must refer her to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on Tuesday last. Factories already complete, together with those on which work is proceeding, should, however, when in full production, provide jobs for about 16,000 persons.
Mrs. BraddockIs my right hon. Friend aware that there are factories requiring expansion which are still being held up for licences of various sorts, and will he consult with his right hon. Friend with reference to the whole situation of unemployment and factory building on Merseyside?
§ Mr. WilsonI have been through a very complete list of every factory where work has been stopped, and I am satisfied that it has been reasonable in each case.
§ Mr. OsborneIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in his own constituency a rayon factory cannot get steel for extension, whereas materials were given for the use of football pool firms in his constituency within the last six months?
§ Mr. WilsonThere has not been the steel available, but work on the factory in question, together with that on other factories in the same industry in other parts of the country, is now going on.