42. Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennettasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how many applications he has received for the establishment of factories in the borough of Gosport; what development charges he laid down in each instance, both initially and finally; how many such applications have been dropped; and how many have gone ahead.
§ Mr. DaltonI am making inquiries and will write to the hon. and gallant Member.
Surgeon Lieut.-Commander BennettIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of industries have already been scared away from this district, which needs them very badly, by the very high charges they have been told would be levied upon them?
§ Mr. DaltonI did not want to give a reply to this Question till I had been able to check it up fully. It only appeared on the Order Paper on Saturday. My information up to date is that five firms have contemplated development: two were wholly exempted from development charge; of the other three, the development charge has been cleared in one case for £100, and the other two applications were withdrawn before an assessment for development charge had been made. That is my answer in reply to the supplementary question. My original answer was that I was making further inquiries.