HC Deb 16 October 1952 vol 505 c381
39. Mr. Willey

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people, men and women, were employed by the North-Eastern Trading Estates, Limited, on the latest available date.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Henry Strauss)

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to employment in the factories administered by the North-eastern Trading Estates, Limited. On 30th August, 1952, the latest date for which official statistics are available, these factories employed 16,695 men and boys and 24,385 women and girls, making a total of 41,080.

I regret that my reply to the hon. Member on 15th July contained an error. The figure of male employment which was given as 16,608 should have been 16,508, and the consequent total figure 41,267.

Mr. Willey

I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman both for correctly assuming the purpose of the Question and for the correction he has made of the earlier reply. Is he not disturbed by the fact that these new Government-built factories are still employing today fewer people than 12 months ago? This is most discouraging to us in the Development Area where we expected that these factories would be employing at least 10,000 more than 12 months ago.

Mr. Strauss

The hon. Gentleman asked me for statistical information. I do not think it would be proper to deal with the other matters by way of supplementary question and answer.