§ 38. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Government policy of a slowing-down of investment programmes applies to new town development corporations.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerDevelopment of the new towns is to continue in step with the movement or expansion of industry in and around each of the towns.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the slowing down of the development in the new town of Glenrothes has nothing to do with the policy as announced in his Budget speech, and can he further say whether it was a pure coincidence that just five days after his Budget speech the Minister of State told the Fife County Council that house-building in Glenrothes would have to cease forthwith?
§ Mr. ButlerI realise the importance which the hon. Gentleman attaches to this matter, being so closely associated with the district, and, with his permission, I should like to look into those facts and send him a reply.
§ Mr. WoodburnWhen he is doing this, would the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind that there has been great disturbance of mind caused amongst the miners whom we are trying to transfer to the new towns by the apprehension that these new towns might not develop as was anticipated? Also, would the right hon. Gentleman look into the question of whether there cannot be a re-creation of advance factories, because it seems that 192 is the only way in which new industries can be attracted to these new towns?
§ Mr. ButlerI am not clear that the apprehensions of the right hon. Gentleman are well-founded, but I will certainly give him an assurance that we will look into them.