HC Deb 17 May 1956 vol 552 c2185
10. Mr. J. Taylor

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that redundancy in the factory of the Telegraph Condenser Company at Bathgate, together with further closures in in the shale oil industry and the pending closure of coal mines in the vicinity is creating a condition of probable heavy unemployment in West Lothian; and if he will expedite and strengthen existing efforts to attract new industries to the county.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

Almost all the workers who have so far become redundant have found other jobs and there is at present little unemployment in the area. The Ministry of Labour and the National Coal Board will do everything possible to place any who become redundant in future. The opportunities for other work in this area are, however, limited and the Government will continue to bring the attractions of the area to the attention of industrialists with suitable new projects.