Distribution of Industry

HC Deb 28 October 1954 vol 531 cc2117-8

16. Mr. Jay

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that it is still the policy of the Government to secure a balanced distribution of industry throughout the country, in accordance with the declarations on pages 11, 12 and 13 of the White Paper on Employment Policy, Command Paper No. 6527, of 1944.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Jay

In view of the expansion in the Greater London area of the motor industry which the President has recently approved, would he not agree that in spite of the general success of the distribution of industry policy there is still a need to steer new schemes away from congested areas like Greater London to other parts of the country that need them?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Yes, but I do not think that the general White Paper on full employment, which is the Paper referred to by the right hon. Gentleman, necessarily makes it obligatory to refuse an expansion of a particular firm in a particular area. The general policy remains as stated.