HC Deb 08 December 1953 vol 521 cc1781-2
11. Mr. Hamilton

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider extending the list of areas scheduled as Development Areas under the Distribu- tion of Industry Act, 1945, so as to include the developing township of Glenrothes in Fife.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are not satisfied that in the Glenrothes area there is likely to be the special danger of unemployment which is the requirement for scheduling laid down in Section 7 (2) of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945.

Mr. Hamilton

Yes, that is the answer I expected, but is the Minister aware that there is nevertheless grave concern in Glenrothes about the failure of the Government to do anything to attract industry to this area, and can he give an answer to the question which has been asked by the Glenrothes Corporation, namely, how far the factory building services of the Scottish Industrial Estates can be brought into play in providing additional new factory facilities in this developing area?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The hon. Gentleman should bear in mind that Glenrothes is a developing and not a Development Area.

Mr. Patrick Maitland

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that one of the consequences of the competitive but uneconomic advantages offered by new town development is that it attracts industry away from a Development Area such as Lanarkshire, where we are facing industrial dereliction?