HC Deb 13 February 1958 vol 582 cc566-7
51. Mr. Gower

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning efforts being made by his Department, or with the assistance of his Department, to bring new factories and industries to the areas of southwest Wales and north-west Wales, respectively, to deal with the particular problems of those areas.

Sir D. Eccles

The Board of Trade is doing all it can to interest industrialists in these two areas. The Board will consider sympathetically applications to build factories in West South Wales under the powers given in the Distribution of Industry Acts. In North West Wales, four factories have been built with the help of the Development Fund and two others are contemplated.

Mr. Gower

Has my right hon. Friend noted the extraordinary financial inducements being offered by the Government of Ulster to industrialists to institute new factories there? Does he not consider that a similar step could be taken in respect of these areas of Wales?

Sir D. Eccles

The unemployment problem in Northern Ireland is very intractable. These special arrangements have been approved by the House, and I think that they are right.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Has the President of the Board of Trade any plans at all for building advance factories in this area?

Sir D. Eccles

I have offered help, but it is the industrialists who have to come forward and say that they would occupy a factory if it were built.