§ 27. Mr. Awberyasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the industrial land with the necessary facilities readily available in Bristol; and if he will take steps to encourage industrialists to take these sites so that employment may be found for the men who are becoming redundant in the industries of the district.
§ Mr. J. RodgersI am aware of the facilities available for industry in Bristol, but while the rate of unemployment remains below the national average special 1296 action to attract further industry to the city would not be justified.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware of the danger of redundancy and the unemployment that this would cause in the aircraft industry? Will he not do something to absorb these men by utilising the ground already available and where we have the gas, electricity, water and transport already available for him to use? Will he use that instead of going to virgin territory and developing that?
§ Mr. RodgersI am aware that there are some further redundancies expected in the aircraft industry, but I would remind the hon. Gentleman that the projects recently completed or under construction or likely to be started in the near future cover I million square feet and should provide work for 2,000 workers in the Bristol area during the next two years.