HC Deb 11 February 1954 vol 523 cc1345-6
20. Mr. Willey

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has now been made in providing employment at the Sunderland factory formerly occupied by Messrs. Price.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

There is nothing which I can at present add to my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 21st January.

Mr. Willey

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that people in Sunderland are becoming increasingly disturbed at this factory remaining vacant? Will he not discuss with the firm the question of their right of assignment under the lease? We should feel more satisfied if the trading company and the right hon. Gentleman had a direct responsibility for finding a tenant for the factory.

Mr. Thorneycroft

I should be quite happy to discuss the matter with the firm, and even more happy to discuss it with the hon. Member. circulate in the Official Report an analysis, company by company, of the figures given there for fixed assets.

Mr. Willey

I await those figures, but is the right hon. Gentleman—who has examined the figures—satisfied that there is yet a reasonable relationship between the numbers employed in these factories and the amount of capital which has been invested in them?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Perhaps the hon. Member will look at the figures. We can then include this matter in our discussions.

Following are the figures: