§ 19. Mr. F. Willeyasked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had about the use of Messrs. Price Tailors Limited, Sunderland Trading Estates factory.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftMessrs. Price hold an assignable lease of the factory and its future use rests in their hands. We have, however, had discussions with them, and have put firms who might be interested in the factory into touch with them.
§ Mr. WilleyWould the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it is a rather unsatisfactory position that Messrs. Price Tailors Ltd. should hold the lease although they are no longer in production in the factory? Could he not persuade them to surrender the lease so that the Trading Estates Company shall be responsible for the future use of the factory?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAll that would happen would be that it would relieve Messrs. Price Tailors Ltd. of their financial liability. It would not necessarily find another tenant, and I think that we had better continue to help them try to find a satisfactory tenant.