HC Deb 22 March 1949 vol 463 cc201-2
44. Mr. Skinnard

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is in communication with local authorities with a view to compilation of a register of firms desirous of seeking factory accommodation in one or other of the new towns together with a list of operatives willing to transfer with their firms.

Mr. King

Responsibility for the distribution of industry rests primarily with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade with whose Department the New Town Development Corporations are in regular consultation as to the selection of firms for transfer to the new towns. Some New Town Corporations are already in touch with the appropriate local authorities who are supplying information of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend as far as it is available. Suitable arrangements for the interchange of information between all corporations and the local authorities concerned will be extended as circumstances require.

Mr. Skinnard

Is there any central place where all the available material collected by these sources can be referred to?

Mr. King

Yes, Sir, in general the Board of Trade is responsible.