25. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken, and is taking, to help the Urban District of Witham to attract factories to its industrial site.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI will continue to consider applications for industrial development certificates on their merits. No application for Witham has been rejected.
Mr. HarrisonWill my right hon. Friend please get his Department to do something active for this very progressive town, so that it may have all possible help in developing its industrial sites?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI will certainly consider, on its merits, any application which I receive for an industrial development certificate.
§ Mr. S. SilvermanWill the Minister let his hon. Friend know the history of the North-East Lancashire Development Board in the last three years? If his hon. Friend does consider that history, he may not regard his right hon. Friend's assistance as anything to be enthusiastic about.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI think that my hon. Friend will be much heartened by the energy displayed by this Government, first in scheduling that area and then erecting in it the largest factory which has ever been erected by any Government.