§ 14. Mr. Shinwellasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now considered what measures are necessary to provide light industries within the Easington rural area.
§ Mr. MackesonI am not yet in a position to add to what my right hon. Friend said in reply to the right hon. Member on 10th of March.
§ Mr. ShinwellThat is astonishing. I have asked this Question on many occasions and I have got the same reply. Can the hon. Gentleman tell me and the House when he expects to be able to make, if not a favourable reply, at any rate a considered reply?
§ Mr. MackesonThe Government are anxious to help the right hon. Gentleman and his constituents in this matter. I will not make the obvious remark about the six years after the war but I assure him that we are going into this matter and we must be careful not to encourage firms which would try to exploit his constituents by giving Government assistance before we have had an opportunity to think the matter over very carefully. We have various alternatives in mind.
§ Mr. ShinwellI thank the Minister for that more favourable reply, but he can be assured that my constituents are quite willing to welcome assistance and can look after themselves. There is no fear of exploitation.
Air Commodore HarveyWill my hon. Friend say what was done for this deserving constituency in the six years after the war when the right hon. Gentleman was in the Cabinet and could have helped himself?