HC Deb 27 October 1953 vol 518 c2612
44. Mr. P. Williams

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department is taking to encourage industry to occupy unused factory space in Sunderland.

Mr. H. Strauss

I do not know of any unused factories in Sunderland at present; but Messrs. Prices Tailors Limited have decided to cease production in their Sunderland factory soon, and, as my right hon. Friend indicated in a reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 22nd October, the Board of Trade will give them every assistance possible in their task of finding a firm to take over the factory from them.

Mr. Willey

In the light of his experience in this case and in certain similar cases recently, will the Parliamentary Secretary look again at the powers of trading estate companies in these matters?