§ 15. Mr. Shinwellasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent his efforts to persuade industrial firms to open factories in the new town of Peterlee have met with success.
§ Sir D. EcclesI regret that no new industrial firms have decided to open factories in Peterlee since my reply to the right hon. Gentleman on 31st January, 1957.
§ Mr. ShinwellCan the right hon. Gentleman say what form his efforts have taken? Is he aware that the people of Peterlee are very worried about the situation, that the population is rapidly increasing, and that there is plenty of female and other labour available?
§ Sir D. EcclesMy information is that the latest figures show that there were 188 females on the books of the local employment exchange and that unemployment for the area was 2.6 per cent, which, although it might not content us, is not much above the average. [Interruption.] For Development Areas, it is not a bad figure. My officers, of course, draw the advantages of Peterlee to the attention of anyone they know who might consider putting up a new factory, but we cannot force people to put up factories there.